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Abstract
The growth of the sweet white lupin industry in Western Australia is a classic case of
the adoption and diffusion of a new innovation in agriculture. In 1979, following the
release of the cultivar lllyarrie, and the development of effective agronomic practices,
the Western Australian Department of Agriculture (DAWA) commenced a major
extension campaign to promo..lupins. Between 1978 and 1992 the area of Lupins
grown increased from 39,000 to 822,OOO hectares. However, the pattern of adoption
varied widely between regions, with differences in starting time, rate and ceiling
levels of adoption. In this paper we examine regional differences in the adoption
process, and estimate the impact of various factors using multivariate regression
analysis. Results suggest that both DAWA extension activities and the presence of
private consult. Lilts contributed to earlier start times of the adoption process.