External Peer Review Comments

APPENDIX D – External Peer Review Comments

NORA External Peer Review Comments and Reponses

NORA FY08 RFA peer review files for project ID: NORA FY08 ENC EGB6

“Increasing Adoption of CROPS by Farmers and Manufacturers”

f. A description of any follow-up steps taken to address review comments, including written response from the project officer on major reviewer comments, and a description of any resulting changes to the project proposal or protocol

Reviewer Comment	Response
Information on the feasibility of the approach is lacking and the approach is not discussed as an extension of prior pilot research.	Part of this project is to determine the feasibility of all three approaches, and as such could be considered as a pilot project.
Consider providing incentives for participation in sessions and reimbursement for travel costs	The project team defined that the meetings should be within a short distance of those invited to participate and that no incentives would be necessary in excess of the free CROPS to the single farmer. The project team will reconsider and if it is decided that they are needed, the team will request FY08 year end funds to cover an appropriate amount to begin the research effort.
Develop a concerted effort to track the participants who may potentially adopt the CROPS technology	Only telephone follow-up calls were included in the original protocol. Adding a follow-up mail survey administered prior to the telephone contacts may improve response rates. A follow-up questionnaire will be included in the final protocol prior to HSRB and OMB submission.
Lack of partnerships with farmer organization outside the academic/extension service sector	Partnerships will be sought as the list of participants is developed. It should also be noted that both NIOSH and the contractors involved have spent considerable effort in developing ties to the farming community in general.
Detail the learning objectives of the demonstration, the messages to be communicated, and the ways in which these items will be assessed pre/post intervention.	The project does not have an educational component. We are seeking insight on the determinants of demand or alternatively stated the barriers to adopt CROPS. Consequently, I do not believe that learning objectives are appropriate.
It is recommended that the evaluation step be completed prior to being published or being integrated into a social marketing project	Will edit the protocol to insure that this is clearly stated as the intent.
Information on hazard control—such as measures to protect the health and safety of research personnel—is insufficient.	Personal protective equipment (safety glasses and gloves) will be supplied, if needed, to each farmer that is installing the CROPS and to the NIOSH staff assisting in that installation. Additional staff on site will assist in keeping attendees at a safe distance from the installation. NIOSH staff will have cell phones to contact local assistance in case of an emergency.

Research to Practice (r2p)

Comment	Response
Evaluation: Not addressed	From reviewers’ comments, it was apparent that the team should (and will) add a follow-up mail survey.