Abstract
This paper summarizes opinions on the economic impacts of horticulture research and extension at the Mississippi State University, Coastal Research and Extension Center. More than 8400 horticulture producers, master gardeners, research and extension staff, and nonprofit organizations participated in horticulture events during the last five years. Qualitative assessments of horticulture research and extension performed by the faculty and staff were solicited during voluntary surveys.
Highlights
Horticulture research and extension are essentially public goods funded for the benefit of the public
The overall goal of this paper is to present a qualitative assessment of the economic impacts of the horticultural research and extension program at the Mississippi State University (MSU)—Coastal Research and Extension Center (CREC)
The survey of opinions on the economic impacts covers the research and extension activities conducted by the faculty and staff of the MSU-CREC at its experiment stations and extension offices located in Coastal Mississippi
Summary
Horticulture research and extension are essentially public goods funded for the benefit of the public. Economic impact assessments are necessary to justify the continued funding of these research and extension programs. As agricultural research budgets are being subjected to strict scrutiny, research centers or programs need to show that they are worth the investment of state, federal, or industry funds [1]. Horticulture researchers and extension specialists rely on industry feedback to document that research-based information is timely and relevant to both emerging and existing issues. Extension programs provide technical education services to farmers through demonstrations, lectures, contact with farmers, and other media [3]. Extension specialists provide farmers with technical information to better evaluate new technology prior to adoption and communicate feedback to technology suppliers. Extension plays an important role in disseminating new technology and bridging the gap between innovation in the laboratories and practice on the farm [4]
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