Extension Specialists Research Articles

A study on socio-economic profile of kashi gomti samyut gramin bank beneficiaries in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh

Use of agrochemicals in India is increasing at the rate of two to five per cent per annum and is about three per cent of total pesticides used in the world. Heavy reliance of agriculture on synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides is having critical effects on public health and environment. Consumer buying behaviour is a process of selecting, purchasing and disposing of goods and services according to the needs and wants of the consumers. The study explored the buying behavior of the farmers and practices followed regarding agrochemicals used on rice crop in Punjab. A total of 100 rice farmers were randomly selected from Ludhiana district. Most of the respondents were seeking information from their peer group, nearly 48 per cent were consulting the private dealers for getting the information about agrochemicals whereas 16 per cent of the respondents were going to extension specialists. Most of the rice farmers were purchasing the fertilizers from cooperative societies whereas for purchasing pesticides most of them preferred private dealers. Brand of the product was most important factor considered while purchasing agrochemicals followed by peer group advice, prior experience and product features whereas price of the product was given least importance. The farmers using recommended practices regarding use of agrochemicals were very few in number. Only five percent respondents in rice crop were observing the ETL of various pests before using the control measures. Most of the respondents were cleaning their spray pumps using detergent or soda.

104 Leadership styles of state extension specialists

Abstract The focus of this study was the leadership styles of extension specialists. Many studies have been conducted on leadership characteristics of extension agents and administrators, however the current knowledge base concerning leadership behaviors of extension specialists is lacking. Traditionally, specialists were strictly used as a resource for subject matter information, however, changes to cooperative extension have seen specialists move into a position that involves leading agent groups and conducting programing that directly serves the clientele. Many specialists find themselves with newly acquired expectations, yet lack training or educational background to ensure these skills. Using a mixed methodological approach, this sequential explanatory study was conducted using transformational leadership theory, with the purpose of examining current leadership characteristics among extension specialists. The specialists were sent a survey which contained questions relating to educational background, make-up and tenure of their position, and included the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) to analyze self-perceived transformational leadership characteristics. This survey was followed by a voluntary individual interview. The purpose of the interview was to gain a broader understanding of the group’s leadership perspectives. Although no significant connections could be made concerning demographic information and MLQ leadership scores, the group as a whole registered below average for displaying transformational leadership characteristics, ranking in the 40th percentile for composite MLQ scores compared to the general population. The interview data showed that the specialists agreed with the concepts of transformational leadership, however MLQ scores and anecdotal evidence show that practical application of transformational leadership was lacking. Most participants indicated they did not initially feel prepared for their job, and many indicated that interpersonal relationship skills were used more often than their degree specialization. The findings from this study may help to encourage leadership training focused towards extension specialists, and to emphasize the need for leadership skills within this position.

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY FOR RECYCLING RICE STRAW IN SHARKIA GOVERNORATE

Due to limited agricultural production and the continuous increase in the population of Egypt, the state tends to benefit from agricultural hay, which are products harvesting field crops and agricultural products as well as animal straw. In addition to the disposal of agricultural straw, which may be the cause of the transfer of agricultural pests and pollution of the environment as a result of decomposition leading to the transmission of diseases and the problem was that dealing with agricultural straw including rice straw is an environmental challenge and economic disposal of these large quantities of rice straw by burning This leads to an environmental catastrophe caused by air pollution and the formation of the so-called black cloud and its impact on public health, especially since about 95% of the total population is concentrated rice straw production in the densely-populated Delta governorates, and all respondents (93%) indicated that there are no factories Rotate straws represent The biggest problem is preventing them from recycling hay. Their proposals to solve this problem are to provide equipment through agricultural recycling associations and about 88% show a lack of agricultural extension specialists Specialists in these are free and there is a lack of training and information programs to educate farmers on how to utilize agricultural hay by 72%, and the lack of places to collect hay Agricultural has reached about 63%, while the lack of machinery and recycling technology was about 62%, the need to use straw as fuel about 49%, while transportation and assembly costs increased by about 67%, and lack of awareness among farmers about how to benefit from it about 66%.

FUTURE CARE PLANNING INTERVENTION WITH RURAL OLDER ADULTS

To address their needs for proactive self-care and end of life planning, we implemented a community based educational program that promotes future care planning (FCP) for community residing older adults. Extension specialists from Iowa State University implemented two brief FCP program sessions with older adults. Topics included both short-term and long-term future care planning activities and strategies. Baseline and post program surveys were completed by 216 community dwelling older adults (M=78.21). The program was successful in getting older Iowans in the rural area start end of life care preparation as well as helping them to make changes in their health care decisions. The majority of participants (89.6 %) reported high satisfaction with the programs. We also found a high rate of change (62%) in opinion regarding future care. The implication of future care planning for is discussed with recommendations for future research.

Greenhouse and Nursery Water Management Characterization and Research Priorities in the USA

Nursery, floriculture, and propagation production accounted for 79% ($13.3 Billion) of 2017 ornamental specialty crop production in the United States. Access to high quality water sources is increasingly limited for irrigating these economically significant crops. Given the production, environmental, and economic issues associated with the use of water—including recycled, reclaimed, surface, and ground water—it is critical to develop sustainable runoff, containment, and remediation technologies, and to identify alternative sources of water. To better understand current practices and future water-related needs as perceived by grower stakeholders, an online survey was distributed nationally and five in-depth round table discussion sessions were conducted at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Gulf States Horticultural Expo, California Grown Show, AmericanHort’s Cultivate, and the Farwest Show with a total of 36 individual industry participants. A team of research and extension specialists facilitated by a Specialty Crops Research Initiative Planning Grant (NIFA Project # 2011-51181-30633) analyzed and concisely summarized the results from the survey and the round table discussions. Research priorities related to water management identified by stakeholders revolved around six themes: (1) recycled water infrastructure and management; (2) contaminants; (3) plant health and water quality; (4) water treatment technologies; (5) competing and complementary water uses; (6) societal perception of agricultural water use.

User Preferences for Accessing Publically Available Turfgrass Cultivar Performance Data

Identifying sources of turfgrass cultivar performance data can be difficult for many consumers. Currently, the best source for data of this type is the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). Unfortunately, these data are made public in a format that is not readily usable for most consumers. Ideally, turfgrass cultivar data would be available in an easily accessible database. We conducted an online survey to investigate user preferences for accessing publically available turfgrass performance data in the United States. We found users desire a turfgrass cultivar performance database that allows for the identification of cultivars best adapted and tolerant to environmental stresses. The information on turfgrass mixtures and blends is also important to most users. Users’ sociodemographic backgrounds, such as gender, education, occupation, and experience in the turf industry, affected their attitudes toward information provided in the turfgrass database. Turfgrass consumers need the new database to provide information on identifying turfgrass options that are resource efficient and endophyte resistant. Turfgrass breeders, researchers, and extension specialists use the turfgrass database to compare different turfgrasses cultivars to do further analysis. The results of this study provide important implications on how an updated turfgrass cultivar performance database and platform can fulfill the different needs of turfgrass researchers, extension personnel, breeders, and stakeholders.

Supporting Successful Transition to the Fresh Market: Research and Extension Needs of Pacific Northwest Strawberry Growers

Pacific Northwest North America (PNW) strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) growers are transitioning away from the processing to fresh-market sector in response to changes in local and regional markets. However, many of the regional cultivars bred for the PNW were not developed for the fresh market. There is a need to gain a better understanding of growers’ priority traits and their relative importance to enable breeders, researchers, and extension specialists to better serve this growing industry. The objective of this study was to provide such information on strawberry genetic traits of importance for the changing strawberry industry in the PNW with an emphasis on fresh-market production. Six surveys were administered to 32 growers representing ≈53%, 23%, and 15% of the total strawberry acreage in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, respectively. Growers ranked the relative importance of five plant and fruit traits, including fruit quality, disease resistance/tolerance, insect pest resistance/tolerance, plant stress tolerance, and other plant factors. Information about target markets, marketing channels, and general grower characteristics were also obtained. Whereas overall responses differed among the surveyed locations, fruit quality was considered the most important trait across all locations, with disease resistance/tolerance as the second most important. Specific fruit quality traits of importance were external appearance free of defects, skin color, size, sweetness, firmness, and flavor, whereas phytonutrients, seed color, and low drip loss after freezing and thawing were less important. Plant stress tolerance was identified as less important for strawberry growers in all locations. Results also showed many growers have already or are in the process of transitioning to the fresh market. Information obtained from this survey can be leveraged to target important breeding traits for fresh-market strawberry breeders within the PNW. Results also suggest priority areas of synergistic research and outreach activities to help growers achieve high fruit quality while managing diseases for fresh-market producers.

Cultivar Resistance to Common Scab Disease of Potato Is Dependent on the Pathogen Species.

Common scab of potato is a superficial tuber disease caused by Streptomyces species that produce the phytotoxin thaxtomin. Because common scab development is highly dependent on the effects of this single toxin, the current operating paradigm in common scab pathology is that a potato cultivar resistant to one strain of the common scab pathogen is resistant to all strains. However, cultivar resistance to common scab disease identified in one breeding program is often not durable when tested in other potato breeding programs across the United States. We infected 55 potato cultivar populations with three distinct species of the common scab pathogen and identified cultivars that were resistant or susceptible to all three species and cultivars that had widely varying resistance dependent on the pathogen species. Overall lower virulence was associated with the strain that produces the least thaxtomin. This result showcases several cultivars of potato that are expected to be resistant to the majority of common scab populations but also highlights that many potato cultivars are resistant to only specific species of the pathogen. These results demonstrate that extension specialists and growers must consider their local population of the common scab pathogen when selecting which cultivars to plant for common scab resistance.

How to Use Crowdfunding in Extension: A Relationship Education Example

Crowdfunding is a resource that allows individuals or groups to raise funds while simultaneously engaging relevant communities and, thus, is an important tool for Extension specialists. We provide recommended steps for successful crowdfunding, including tips for identifying a website, developing or refining a proposal, and crafting a marketing and campaign strategy. We use the successful crowdfunding of a relationship education program as an example.

69 Arkansas beef producers’ age impacts educational method preference

Abstract In November 2017, leaders from each segment of the Arkansas beef industry were invited to participate in a nominal group technique to identify current strengths, weaknesses, and future opportunities of the industry. Results from the nominal group technique were used to develop surveys specifically for beef cattle segments. A total of 325 responses were received. One objective of the study was to evaluate educational preferences including methods for receiving information and group meeting participation. Participants identified with one of 5 age categories including < 31 yrs, 31 to 40 yrs, 41 to 50 yrs, 51 to 60 yrs, and > 60 yrs of age. Participants were also asked to rate methods for receiving information, based on preference where 1 = not preferred and 5 = highly preferred. A correlation between age and preferred method of receiving information could guide future efforts in educational information development. There was a negative correlation between age and social media as the preferred method for receiving information (r = -0.32, P = < .001). No other significant differences were detected between preferred method of receiving information and age. In an effort to be efficient with the educational materials that are produced, and reach as many clientele as possible using the preferred methods of receiving information, Extension specialists can focus on correlations between preferred methods of receiving information. Producers who prefer printed publications as a method of receiving information, also highly prefer display/poster, group meeting/workshop, experiment station field days, and on-farm field demonstrations. Participants whose preferred method of receiving information was a mobile device, also highly preferred social media, online web-based information, distance education, and trade magazines. Extension personnel could concentrate efforts in developing information using the methods listed above to reach larger groups of target clientele, by using highly preferred methods of receiving information.

61 2018 Southern Section Extension Forum: Collaborating to meet the needs of clientele

Abstract A two-day forum was held at the University of Tennessee (UT) Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center to foster collaborative efforts between Extension specialists and county or area agents across the southern United States. The forum was attended by 28 specialists and 18 county or regional agents from across the Southern Section of ASAS. The forum began with a tour of the UT Heifer Development Center. The forum was split into three sessions and included: 1. Transfer of knowledge (Demonstration research), 2. Developing formal education for Extension agents, and 3. Collaborating across state lines to develop Extension Programs. Within each section, a brief presentation was given, followed by break-out sessions to discuss success stories from each state and potential programs to implement. From the break-out session, areas of need identified primarily focused on the development of support resources for Extension agents. Needed outputs identified included a resource guide for conducting on-farm research and demonstration projects with county and regional Extension agents, defining a regional process to provide formal distance education for agents, and development of online coursework and training tools for agents for continuing education. Assessment data indicate that participants had completed an average of 8.4 (± 6.65, range 0.5 to 24) years of service. Agents were asked to rank their level of confidence, using a 5-point Likert scale, with three tasks. Averages (SEM) of that self-assessment are indicated in Table 1. The 2018 Southern Section Extension Forum was a successful effort to bring together collaborators to identify needs and propose programs to improve the impact of Extension.

67 2018 Alfalfa in the South Workshop Series: A review of regional Extension efforts

Abstract Alfalfa research in the Southeast has steadily increased over the past ten years. Researchers have a renewed interest in this perennial legume as new varieties have been released that are better suited to the challenging climate and use in the Southeast. Extensive effort has been put forth in establishing programs promoting the use of alfalfa as a viable high-quality forage option in the south. In 2018, the “Alfalfa in the South” workshop series was designed to provide in-depth extension education, circulate new research findings, and engage in discussions with producers as related to the use of alfalfa in the southeast. The series consisted of 4 one-day workshops, organized by University of Georgia Extension in conjunction with America’s Alfalfa, and included Extension specialists, faculty, and graduate students from both the University of Georgia and Auburn University. Topics were broken into five classroom learning modules: 1) site selection and establishment, 2) improving animal performance with alfalfa, 3) managing alfalfa for persistence, 4) alfalfa breeding programs, and 5) graduate student research updates. Each workshop concluded with an on-farm demonstration where attendees engaged in discussion with producers utilizing alfalfa in their operation. Postworkshop evaluation results determined that, on a scale of 1 to 5, where “1” was “no change” and “5” indicated “greatly improved,” producers rated their change in interest using alfalfa as a 4.73 and their confidence in using alfalfa management skills as 4.36. Additionally, the producer discussion and field tour section rated the highest, 4.67 (1 being “poor” and 5 being “excellent”); however, all topics rated 4.12 or higher, indicating that attendees found this workshop to be very good to excellent. Of the 60 participants, 68% indicated that they would make some major changes and 32% plan to try to make minor management changes following the workshops.

Elevating dairy research and extension through partnership: Outcomes from the United States Department of Agriculture and National Dairy Council collaborative meeting to develop a coordination roadmap

Dairy foods provide a significant portion of the recommended daily nutrition for much of the US population. Improving the availability of safe and nutritious dairy products and decreasing the environmental impact of the dairy community continue to be high priorities for both industry and the public sector. In recognition of these shared priorities, scientists and other specialists from the USDA, National Dairy Council, industry, academia, and nongovernmental organizations participated in the "Elevating Dairy Research and Extension Through Partnership" meeting on June 19, 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen partnerships and identify dairy-related research and extension needs in human nutrition, environmental sustainability, food safety, and product innovation that would benefit from enhanced coordination and collaboration across the dairy community, academia, and government. To catalyze further progress on these topics, the meeting organizers agreed to leverage the content and expertise that emerged from the meeting to develop a dairy research and extension coordination roadmap. The roadmap will establish and articulate a vision for coordinated collaboration between USDA researchers, the National Dairy Council, university researchers, extension specialists, and other dairy community stakeholders in the private and public sectors. This article represents the proceedings of the meeting and is intended to broadly communicate the dairy research and extension discussion and next steps to the dairy research and extension communities and other stakeholders in industry, academic, and government sectors.

Assessing the Potential Adoption of Quinoa for Human Consumption in Central Malawi

This study assesses the potential adoption of quinoa for consumption in central Malawi. Environmental, economic, and social problems are prevalent in this region dependent on subsistence agriculture. Quinoa is conceptualized as a new agricultural innovation. If successfully adopted, quinoa may have the potential to provide additional nutrition, crop diversification, and added value as an export crop for smallholder farms. Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations framework seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate individuals or societal groups adopt new ideas and technology over time. To assess the potential adoption of quinoa as an alternative food source in central Malawi, this exploratory study focuses on two aspects of the Diffusion of Innovations model: perceived compatibility (an innovation attribute) and change agents’ promotion efforts. With an emphasis on the local-level experiences of regional farmers and extension specialists, data were gathered to evaluate the adoption potential of a new innovation (quinoa) and the potential diffusion of information between extension programs and local farmers. Results showed that adoption potential in this region is positive, with a focus on regular and consistent extension visits, and participatory research between researchers, extension, and villagers.

Florida Avocado Production and Profitability Analysis

This article provides an estimate of the costs and returns associated with avocado production in Miami-Dade County and a brief analysis of the profitability of the industry. The budget is based on a 5-year average yield of 8,000 pounds per acre (assuming a pack-out rate of 94%) and on estimates of the current average F.O.B. price in South Florida of $0.85 per pound. The budget does not make any provision for establishment costs. Although the assumptions made in computing the costs reflect the practices of the avocado growers in the area, the information provided here is intended only as a guide to facilitate estimating the financial requirements of maintaining avocado groves. Data used in the analysis were obtained from interviews with growers and Extension specialists. This is EDIS document FE575, a publication of the Department of Food and Resource Economics, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Published November 2005.

Advancing Knowledge of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management—Leo Walsh Lectureship

Advancing Knowledge of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management—Leo Walsh Lectureship

Potential use of wild plants in floriculture

Over recent years, the floriculture trade, in particular cut flowers and potted ornamentals, has been on the rise, driven by the growing interest of society in its environmental and well-being benefits. Consequently, it is in the best interest of floriculturists, extension specialists and scientists to tap upcoming trends and opportunities for new ornamental plants. Wild plants could represent potential candidates to be used as ornamentals. The term “wild” when applied to plant species refers to those that grow spontaneously in self-maintaining populations in natural or semi-natural ecosystems and can exist independently of direct human action. Although often overlooked with respect to their commercial development, wild plant species can have a considerable role in floriculture. Wild plants are also successfully used in sustainable landscaping and xeriscaping for their beauty, functionality in maintaining environmental stability in terms of resource preservation, low water consumption, reduced demand for pesticides and other chemical inputs, suitability in preserving valuable wildlife habitats as well as reduced maintenance and labor costs. With respect to the contribution of wild plants to improved flower trade, aspects to be considered include: i) conservation and sustainable use of wild species; ii) identification of wild species useful as sources of new ornamentals; iii) germplasm conservation; and iv) the role of research institutions and nurseries in the innovation process. This review gives an overview of all these aspects in relation to the Mediterranean basin, which is considered to be one of the planet's biodiversity 'hotspots', because of its high level of endemism.

Cotton's northward expansion in the Plains comes with a learning curve

Cotton acres continue to increase and are being grown in northerly regions of the Plains that only a decade ago were considered unsuitable. With that management comes a learning curve. Because cotton production is still relatively new in parts of the Texas High Plains, Oklahoma, and Kansas, extension specialists say successful production practices in other regions may not necessarily be applicable. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/686.

Effect of teaching poultry production on choice of career by Agricultural Science students in secondary schools in the Southern Senatorial Zone, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of teaching poultry production on choice of career by Agricultural Science students in secondary schools in Southern Senatorial Zone, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study used survey research design. Six hundred and forty-four (644) respondents out of 18,556 were selected from 30 schools that were purposely selected out of 175 in Southern Senatorial zones, using proportional random sampling techniques. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics was used to test all the two null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. All the two null hypotheses were rejected because for each of the null hypothesis the (p) value was less than 0.05 level of significance. Among the findings of the study were: The review of the curriculum of agricultural science had direct effect on poultry production in secondary schools because the use of practical methods of teaching poultry production in secondary schools enhanced the subject learning process. Also, the ideas from extension workers and specialist in poultry production made significant effect on poultry production. The distribution of teachers according to their sex indicated that 27 of the respondents representing 96.45% were male, while one of the respondents that is 3.5% was a female. The distribution of poultry attendants according to sex showed that 25 of the respondents representing 89.29% were male, while 3 of the respondents, that is 10.71% were female. The study considered two research questions and two null hypotheses.

Network‐based approaches for soil health research and extension programming in North Dakota, USA

AbstractFarmer adoption of practices to build soil health can be enhanced using a knowledge network supported by programs and resources that incorporate technical, social and experiential learning pathways. University Extension plays a critical role in building and supporting the knowledge network by serving as (a) a boundary organization to create space for conversations to occur, (b) network manager to facilitate learning and (c) builder of social capital to encourage trust in the network. The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Soil Health Program was used to illustrate the above approach. Between 2014 and 2016, 32 informal discussion groups, called Soil Health Café Talks, reached 156 individuals. A knowledge network of all participants was developed using NodeXL. The 10 most influential individuals in the network included two scientists, five farmers, one crop consultant and two Extension specialists. All non‐NDSU participants received an evaluation form. Respondents increased their frequency of discussing cover crops with other individuals and increased sharing equipment across farming operations (i.e., vertical tillage implements and no‐till drills). Of the topics discussed, over 25% of respondents adopted practices using cover crops (interseeding and using cover crops for weed control and adjusting rotations to incorporate cover crops) as a result of attending Café Talks. Respondents also increased their use of NDSU Soil Health online resources such as Twitter (22%), YouTube (23%) and the web page (21%) as follow‐up information to Café Talks. Network‐based approaches have proven to be successful in encouraging on‐farm adoption of soil health‐building practices.