Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 191 Document Number: D03025
Notes:
Three-part research report for a course, Agricultural Communications 300, University of Illinois, Urbana. 12 pages., Part 1 - Communication methods used by the Extension Service in Nigeria. 13 pages. Part 2 - Factors that effective effectiveness of communication. 17 pages. Part 3 - Ways to overcome problems and recommendations in use of communication in the Extension Service. 28 pages.
See abstract in folder of Document No. D06143., Abstract of poster presentation at North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture conference, Athens, Georgia, June 16-20., "eXtension has not been adopted among Iowa Extension professionals as founders intended it would be and has the potential to become a disruptive innovation..." Only 15 percent of study participants indicated using eXtension in their work.
Andrango, Graciela (author) and Bergtold, Jason S. (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2015-07
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 141 Document Number: D06281
Notes:
Accessed August 6, 2015., Paper presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and Western Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting, San Francisco, California, July 26-28, 2015. 20 pages.
Caribbean: International Program for Agricultural Knowledge Systems (INTERPAKS), Office of International Agriculture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D07290
Johnson, Eldon L. (author), Fliegel, Frederick C. (author), and Chu, Mel C. (author)
Format:
Research report
Publication Date:
1987-12
Published:
Taiwan
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 195 Document Number: D07937
Notes:
John L. Woods Collection, Report by the International Program for Agricultural Knowledge Systems (INTERPAKS), College of Agriculture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. December 1987. 72 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: oversized box 2 Document Number: D08011
Notes:
John L. Woods Collection
In two folders, Overhead visuals for a presentation about making rural development projects more effective. Development Training and Communication Planning, UNDP Asia and the Pacific Programme, Bangkok, Thailand. 21 overheads.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 196 Document Number: D08026
Notes:
john L. Woods Collection, Consultant report for the Egyptian National Agricultural Research Project of the Consortium for International Development (CID). Project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, D. C., October 15-Novembver 12, 102 pages.
Page 17 in Review of Extension Research, January through December 1957. Summary of a thesis for the Master of Science degree in Agricultural Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington. 94 pages.
Pages 53-54 in Review of Extension Research, January through December 1957. Information Sheet 540, Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, Mississippi State University, State College. 1956.
Page 65 in Review of Extension Research, January through December 1957. Summary of a survey for Agricultural Extension, Texas Agricultural College, College Station. 1957. 14 pages.
Pages 13-14 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of a thesis for the master of science degree in agricultural extension education, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 1961. 141 pages.
Pages 74-75 in Extension Service Circular 544, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of thesis for the doctor of philosophy degree in cooperative extension administration, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 1960. 155 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08590
Notes:
Located in Review of Extension Studies, volumes for 1946-1956, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., Summary of thesis for master of science degree, Iowa State College, Ames. 122 pages
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08615
Notes:
Located in Review of Extension Studies, volumes for 1946-1956, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., Summary of a thesis for the master of education degree, Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ft. Collins. 80 pages.
USA: Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08891
Notes:
Pages 2-5 in Lucinda Crile, Review of Extension Research - January to December 1953, Extension Service Circular 493, January 1954. A summary report of nine studies made for the Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy. Eight of the studies involved attitudes, interests and effectiveness of county extension agents.
USA: Federal Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08940
Notes:
Page 9 in Grace Gallup and Lucinda Crile, Bibliography on Extension Research, November 1943-1948. Library List No. 48. USDA Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. U.S. Brief description of a research study by the U.S. Extension Service in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 1947. 109 pages.
Claar, John B. (author / Director, International Program for Agricultural Knowledge Systems (INTERPAKS))
Format:
Speech
Publication Date:
1984-01
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10094
Notes:
16 pages., This speech is from a project file maintained by the Agricultural Communications Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign > "International" section > "Sierra Leone" file., Speech at the Second Conference regarding ACRE in Sierra Leone, January 11-14, 1984., Comprehensive thoughts from an emeritus state Extension director regarding "what the world has learned about knowledge transfer," with special emphasis on Extension services
2 pages., Via online journal., Multistate collaborations enable extension professionals to reach their audience across a region with similar production challenges. The objective of this article is to introduce the three proceeding manuscripts delivered at the American Society of Horticultural Sciences annual conference in Atlanta, GA, as part of a workshop entitled “Advancing Technology Adoption and Achieving Extension Impact: A Working Group Success Story.” Topics discussed in the following manuscripts include the development of a multistate working group and the advantages associated with participation, development and impact of book or electronic book publications, and survey results from more traditional hands-on workshops. The goal of this workshop was to provide guidance to others who wish to establish multistate, multidisciplinary collaborative teams as well as use new education formats.
Purpose: The impact of agricultural knowledge transfer (KT) is related to the access to and the quality of services available. Within this context, the allocation of resources in terms of KT offices and the number of advisers are important considerations for understanding KT impact. This quantitative study evaluates the impact of KT resources on farm profitability for clients in Ireland during the recessionary period 2008–2014.
Design/Methodology: Teagasc, the public KT service provider in Ireland, experienced significant office closures (43%) and a reduction in advisers (38%) during the economic crisis, yet client numbers declined only slightly (4.5%). Administrative data are merged with a panel data set on farm-level performance to evaluate the impact through Random Effects estimation.
Findings: The results show that clients gained a 12.3% benefit to their margin per hectare over the period. However, there was a negative effect of 0.2% for each additional client assigned to the adviser which averaged at 9.6%.
Practical Implications: The quantitative findings provide a measure of impact that represents the value for money for the KT service. The key implication is that the client ratio for advisers should be considered when allocating resources and lower ratios would positively impact client margins.
Theoretical Implications: This article outlines the value of quantitative studies to estimate impact in a clear translatable manner which can aid the policy discussion around resource deployment.
Originality/Value: This study evaluates the impact of KT during a recessionary period when resources were constrained, and uses client ratios to examine the spatial effects.
22 pages., via online journal., The community engagement professional (CEP) plays a critical role in engaging faculty, staff, and students with communities. In order to do this in the most effective way, this essay advocates
for CEPs to become familiar with the Cooperative Extension system and develop competency for engaging Extension personnel, even when those personnel are not a part of the CEP’s home institution. The essay extends the work of Dostilio et al. (2017) on preliminary competencies for the community engagement professional by identifying additional competencies, organized as knowledge, skill, and dispositions, that can help CEPs work with the Cooperative Extension system to maximize engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. This essay also includes ideas for implementing competency training for CEPs. Conclusions include thoughts on preparing the community engagement professional to learn and collaborate with Cooperative Extension to enrich the academic experience and benefit the communities they serve.
16 pages, via online journal article, Purpose: In this paper, the knowledge dynamics of the farmer–rural extensionist’ interface were explored from extensionists’ perspective with the aim of understanding the matchmaking processes between supply and demand of extension services at the micro-level. Design/methodology/approach: Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with extensionists whom work in the North-Eastern, Argentine provinces. Findings: Two different, general types of knowledge dynamics were identified: one moderately diffusionist, based on a hierarchical relationship and the prioritisation of experts’ knowledge, and the other constructivist, based on horizontal processes of co-construction. Interestingly, some extensionists support beliefs pertaining to both approaches. They also highlight the importance of unceremonious trainings, interpersonal trust and making recommendations that take into account farmers’ rationale. Practical implications: Results show the persistence of diffusionist rural extension and that extensionists have different, even contradictory, extension approaches, which renders inappropriate any attempt to generalise their perspectives. Theoretical implications: This study suggests that farmers’ demand is the result of a constructive, interactive process, and thus is not prior to the interaction between the demand side (farmers) and the supply side (extensionists). Consequently, the knowledge and power dynamics that take place within the farmer–extensionist interface should be considered the nucleus of demand construction and the matchmaking process. Originality/value: This paper addresses the dynamic matchmaking process between supply and demand of extension services at the micro-level, suggesting it is a constructive process and showing the core role played by power dynamics.
Personal interviews with 336 small-acreage sugarcane growers indicated that less than half had any knowledge of the public extension services available. Growers who were aware of extension services and sought information from extension achieved substantially higher average yields than growers who did not. Authors recommended that the Pakistan government review current extension services and consider strengthening them.
Singletary, Loretta (author), Smutko, L.Steven (author), Hill, George C. (author), Smith, Marilyn (author), Daniels, Steven E. (author), Ayres, Janet S. (author), and Haaland, Kay (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2008
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 140 Document Number: D11525
19 pages., Online via UI Catalog, Researchers used survey methodology to invite Cooperative Extension professionals to identify their training needs for engaging communities in collaborative processes. Findings identified 35 skills needed to conduct programs to help citizens manage natural resource conflict.
Buchner, Richard P. (author), Grieshop, James I. (author), Connell, Joseph H. (author), Krueger, William H. (author), Olson, William H. (author), Hasey, Janine K. (author), Pickel, Carolyn (author), Edstrom, John (author), and Yoshikawa, Frank T. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1996
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11713
Results of a study examining the regional reach of information for tree crop farmers in a six-county area questioned the traditional emphasis on pest control advisors and private consultants as an effective way to distribute information widely. Farmer responses to this survey identified farm advisors as more useful information sources. Authors also encouraged agricultural educators to learn more about how farmers gather information and what influences their adoption of new practices.
8 pages, Does it matter whether farmers receive advice on pest management strategies from public or from private (pesticide company affiliated) extension services? We use survey data from 733 Swiss fruit growers who are currently contending with an infestation by an invasive pest, the fruit fly Drosophila Suzukii. We find that farmers who are advised by public extension services are more likely (+9–10%) to use preventive measures (e.g. nets) while farmers who are advised by private extension services are more likely (+8–9%) to use synthetic insecticides. These results are robust to the inclusion of various covariates, ways to cluster standard errors, and inverse probability weighting. We also show that our results are unlikely to be driven by omitted variable bias. Our findings have implications for the current debates on both the ongoing privatization of agricultural extension and concerns regarding negative environmental and health externalities of pesticide use.
8 pages, Agricultural extension can be defined as the entire set of organisations that support and facilitate people engaged in agricultural production to solve problems and to obtain information, skills and technologies to improve their livelihoods and well-being. Extension officials should ensure that farmers are engaged and capacitated so that they can make production decisions that are not in conflict with nature, yet such decisions ensure that their well-being is improved. With 75% of the world’s poor living in rural areas, the topic of improved agriculture through agricultural extension is viewed as central to poverty reduction. There have been questions posed by stakeholders (communities, policy-makers and politicians) about the non-visibility and accountability of agricultural extension in the communities that it is supposed to help. There are however a number of factors (perceived or real) that make agricultural extension less or not visible nor accountable. Therefore, this paper investigates and proposes a theoretical framework or model to ensure that agricultural extension is visible and accountable to all stakeholders. This will in turn ensure that there are noticeable increases or improvement of the lives of the resource poor farmers and communities.
19 pages, Agricultural extension service delivery remains pivotal in disseminating contemporary and innovative agricultural information, and the training and capacity building of farmers; all of which are critical to increased farmer productivity. There are several agricultural extension methods used by extension field officers to engage their target farmers; some of the contact methods used, like the individual and group methods amongst others, necessitates close interactions between both parties. As such, physical contact between persons cannot be avoided. In the current spate of COVID-19 threats to global health, there is a possible risk of human-to-human transmission of the disease. Some temporary measures like social distancing and the ban of gatherings are currently utilised by many countries to mitigate the rapid spread of the virus. The findings of several research reports showed that these restrictions negatively impacted agricultural extension service deliveries. This paper, therefore, reviewed alternative media delivery mechanisms as a probable palliative measure in sustaining the continuous delivery of agricultural information to farmers. The paper recommends intensifying the use of the electronic extension (E-extension) system. The mobile and computer/web-based platforms should be significantly harnessed (where applicable), while concurrently promoting the intense use of print media, radio, television, agricultural documentaries and instructional videos.
19 pages, Extension support is viewed as an enabler of food security. However, the literature reveals that extension within the public sector in South Africa is not yet geared to satisfy the needs of resource-poor smallholder producers to break away from poverty and food insecurity. This paper is aimed at reviewing budget allocation and public expenditure on agricultural extension support services to provide evidence-based recommendations to inform the implementation of the national policy on extension and advisory services. The study was conducted using budget allocation and expenditure data collected through a survey questionnaire directed at nine provincial departments of agriculture. The problem investigated was to establish whether the budget allocated to provincial extension services would be sufficient to implement the extension policy. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics including t-tests of differences in means. The study has delivered several findings: a). The budget execution rates were high for both the extension practitioners and the farmer programmes, with budget execution for farmer programmes being better than that for extension practitioners. b). The budget trends indicate an efficient system of budget execution for the benefit of the farmers. c). There were statistically significant differences between mean budget allocation for extension practitioners and farmer programmes. d). It was further found that the differences between the mean expenditure on extension practitioners and mean expenditure on farmer programmes were statistically significant. e). Consistent with budget allocation, mean expenditure on farmer programmes was higher than mean expenditure on extension practitioners leading to the conclusion that farmer programmes spent significantly higher than extension practitioners in the five financial years. f). On the other hand, it was found that the cost of implementing the newly developed national policy on extension and advisory services was found to be greater than the current budget allocation. The paper concluded that the budget allocation was insufficient, yet farmers received value for money.
19 pages, Extension support is viewed as an enabler of food security. However, the literature reveals that extension within the public sector in South Africa is not yet geared to satisfy the needs of resource-poor smallholder producers to break away from poverty and food insecurity. This paper is aimed at reviewing budget allocation and public expenditure on agricultural extension support services to provide evidence-based recommendations to inform the implementation of the national policy on extension and advisory services. The study was conducted using budget allocation and expenditure data collected through a survey questionnaire directed at nine provincial departments of agriculture. The problem investigated was to establish whether the budget allocated to provincial extension services would be sufficient to implement the extension policy. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics including t-tests of differences in means. The study has delivered several findings: a). The budget execution rates were high for both the extension practitioners and the farmer programmes, with budget execution for farmer programmes being better than that for extension practitioners. b). The budget trends indicate an efficient system of budget execution for the benefit of the farmers. c). There were statistically significant differences between mean budget allocation for extension practitioners and farmer programmes. d). It was further found that the differences between the mean expenditure on extension practitioners and mean expenditure on farmer programmes were statistically significant. e). Consistent with budget allocation, mean expenditure on farmer programmes was higher than mean expenditure on extension practitioners leading to the conclusion that farmer programmes spent significantly higher than extension practitioners in the five financial years. f). On the other hand, it was found that the cost of implementing the newly developed national policy on extension and advisory services was found to be greater than the current budget allocation. The paper concluded that the budget allocation was insufficient, yet farmers received value for money.
12 pages, The study assessed the capability of extension agents in disseminating Climate Change (CC) information in Delta State, Nigeria. A multi-stage procedure was used in selecting 60 respondents. Data were collected on respondents’ capacity for outreach to farmers; existence of linkage on CC and sources of information on CC, constraints to building capacities for outreach and strategies to strengthen capacities. Mean, percentage, were used for analysis. Findings showed the existence of training on CC (23.3%) and practical learning experience on CC adaptation (20.0%). Lack of human resources (x= 3.30) and training programmes on CC (x= 3.23) were constraints to building capacities for outreach. Organization of seminars, workshops (x= 3.58), proper staffing (x= 3.57), provision of incentives (x= 3.55) were suggested as strategies to strengthen capacity for outreach. Extension agents in the state lack the requisite facilities for outreach to farmers on climate change agricultural adaptation. Also, there are inadequate human and material resources necessary for effective coverage of the farming population. Government and development organizations should hire qualified extension personnel and provide weather observatory for CC outreach in Delta State.
14 pages, This study explored impact of agricultural extension services on cereal production. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire from a random sample of 262 farmers from four regions (east, west, north, and south) in Bhutan. Farmers assessed the impact of extension services on five aspects of cereal production (cereal seed, social, environmental, production, and marketing aspects). Percentages and an ordered logistic model were used to analyze the data. The study found a low level of farmers’ participation in extension services. The social aspect of cereal production was the most impacted by the extension programmes, while the marketing aspect was the least impacted. The farmers’ cultivated dry land (Coeff. = 0.21) and wetland (Coeff. = 0.72), their participation in extension services (Coeff. = 0.61), and the extra labour (Coeff. = 0.24) significantly contributed to cereal production. The provision of effective and high-quality extension programs by extension agents is critical for smallholder farmers to enhance their agricultural production.
4 pages, The Covid-19 pandemic has been highly disruptive to Extension programming. Online programming has emerged as one of the primary approaches for maintaining engagement with the communities and populations Extension serves. Some have even suggested that it might become the default programming method, even after it is safe to return to in-person programming. In this commentary, I discuss some of the current limitations and challenges inherent in online-only programming -- ones that are often overlooked by Extension personnel. Further, I discuss key factors that Extension personnel should take into account when considering online programming for any future professional efforts.
Beilin, Ruth (author), Paine, Mark (author), Pryor, Rebekah (author), and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australian Government, Barton, ACT.
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
2007-07
Published:
Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C27021
Notes:
Executive summary posted at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HCC/07-100sum.html; full report posted at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HCC/07-100.pdf, RIRDC Publication No. 07-100. 39 pages.
Israel, Glenn (author), Osborne, Ed (author), Place, Nick (author), TenBroeck, Saundra (author), and Arnold, Shannon (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2008-03-09
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167 Document Number: C27973
Notes:
Presented at the 24th annual conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education at EARTH University, Costa Rica, March 9-15, 2008. 11 pages.
Erbaugh, J. Mark (author), Donnermeyer, Joseph (author), Kyamanywa, Samuel (author), and Kucel, Patrick (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2008-03-09
Published:
Uganda
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167 Document Number: C27977
Notes:
Presented at the 24th annual conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education at EARTH University, Costa Rica, March 9-15, 2008. 12 pages.
Phelan, James (author) and McNamara, John (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2008-03-09
Published:
Ireland
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167 Document Number: C27982
Notes:
Presented at the 24th annual conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education at EARTH University, Costa Rica, March 9-15, 2008. 12 pages.
Tuttle, Sabrina (author), Moore, Gerald (author), Livingston, Matthew (author), Masters, Linda (author), Long, Jonathan (author), Benally, Jeannie (author), Adolf, Melvina (author), and Hiller, Joseph (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2008-03-09
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167 Document Number: C27987
Notes:
Presented at the 24th annual conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education at EARTH University, Costa Rica, March 9-15, 2008. 12 pages.
"It is obvious that the farmers need more training. But, according to them, only a few trainers with low qualification and little time are available either from commercial channels or from government organizations."
Larson, James A. (author), Roberts, Roland K. (author), English, Burton C. (author), Martin, Steven W. (author), Velandia, Margarita (author), Lambert, Dayton M. (author), and Jenkins, Amanda (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2010-10
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 179 Document Number: C35994
