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Contents
Editor's Page
- Editor's Page
- "JOE by the Numbers" reports how many submissions JOE received
in 2001 and describes how they've fared in the review process. In that
section you'll also find information on submission and readership rates.
"Discussion Opportunity" waves the banner for the new JOE
Discussion Forum. And "February 2002 JOE" highlights some
of the topics discussed this monthExtension involvement in public
and possibly controversial issues most notable among them.
Commentary
- Extension Faculty and Political Acumen
- Stoltz, Michael
Extension faculty function in a political arena and should be politically
active in Extension issues and budgets. Extension faculty and administrators
each have a role in providing reliable information on issues and budgets
to elected officials. Extension administration should provide plans
and budgets to faculty and expect them to work with elected officials
as well as inform clientele and support groups. Communication between
all levels of Extension becomes extremely critical. There are pitfalls,
but the rewards can be a stable or higher Extension budget.
- View reader comments for this Commentary in the JOE
Discussion Forum. (This forum is no longer accepting new entries.)
Feature Articles [All
2/2002 Feature Articles]
- The Role of Extension in Controversial Studies:
The Case of Interstate Dairy Compacts
- Bailey, Kenneth W.
This article reviews the steps taken at the University of Missouri in
dealing with a very controversial study on dairy compacts. More and
more, Extension is being asked to conduct applied economic studies on
controversial public policy issues. However, care must be taken to conduct
these studies in an objective and scholarly manner without unnecessarily
alienating affected stakeholders. Academic freedom and integrity must
be maintained, and faculty cannot allow themselves to be placed in a
position to be influenced by affected stakeholders. At the same time,
Extension cannot operate effectively without these important stakeholders.
This study outlines an acceptable balance.
- Coalition Sustainability: Long-Term Successes &
Lessons Learned
- Lodl, Kathleen; Stevens, Georgia
While most Cooperative Extension projects begin with worthy goals, to
truly measure a project's long-term success, it is necessary to assess
the project's impact over time. The purpose of this article is to analyze
the sustainability and continued impact of a USDA funded youth-at-risk
project coalition building project 10 years after the onset of the initial
project and 5 years after cessation of funding. The lessons learned
through the work of the coalitions involved in this project can provide
insight into the planning and implementation of other projects and strategies
that can be used to ensure long-term project sustainability.
- Evaluating Extension-Based Water Resource Outreach
Programs: Are We Meeting the Challenge?
- Shepard, Robin
Attention from politicians and agency personnel, concerns over duplication
in mission, privatization, and the push for competitive funding serve
to increase the demand for evaluation and accountability in Extension
education. In winter 1997-98, a survey was conducted with Cooperative
State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) state water
quality coordinators to assess the status of evaluation efforts related
to water quality outreach projects. Survey results offer insight into
when and how accountability issues are addressed throughout the life
of a project.
- The Long and Short of Groundwater Education for
Michigan Farmers
- Holsman, Robert H.; Krueger, David
The Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program (MGSP) has pursued a variety
of educational strategies to educate farmers about groundwater risks
associated with pesticide and fertilizer use. This article describes
a 4-year study investigating program effectiveness. The results suggest
that Farm*A*Syst has been a successful intervention for promoting farm
management practices. Yet, despite the apparent changes in some farm
management practices, little impact on groundwater literacy has been
achieved. We suspect adoption of these practices may be driven by financial
incentives, rather than an improved understanding of the need to assess
and evaluate risks to their local groundwater supplies.
- Changes in Cultural Practices of Farmers in Southeast
Nebraska as a Result of Their Adoption of Transgenic Crops
- Peterson, James M.; Cassman, Kenneth G.; Cantrell, Randy
How do cultural practices change as producers adopt transgenic crops?
A group of progressive producers in southeast Nebraska were surveyed
to learn how practices changed as RR soybeans were adopted. These producers
were found conservative in changing their management practices to use
transgenic crops most efficiently. Tillage and planting practices were
unchanged from conventional crops. Seed dealers and on-farm research
were the top educational resources used in determining which varieties
of soybeans to plant. Based on this study, on-farm research offers Extension
an avenue for providing needed information to producers.
- Investing in the Future: Addressing Work/Life Issues
of Employees
- Kutilek, Linda M.; Conklin, Nikki L.; Gunderson, Gail
The Extension organization has a long tradition of professional service
to clientele, often at a cost of sacrifice to family and self. The results
of a national study indicated that work/life issues are of great concern.
Employees identified the most critical work/life challenges as: 1) a
heavy work load, 2) evening and weekend time commitments, and 3) lack
of control or job autonomy. The recommendations, based on this study,
urged Extension administrators throughout the organization to reduce
the workload and time requirements of county-based professionals and
contended that policies needed to be consistent within the national
Extension system.
- Building Local Knowledge for Developing Health Policy
Through Key Informant Interviews
- Morton, Lois Wright
Key informant surveys offer Extension educators a way to build knowledge
about their local health systems and provide a catalyst for developing
health policies. Key informant surveys of 138 leaders in 14 rural counties
revealed the top 10 health goals across these counties. These goals
are a starting point for public dialogues to develop a local health
agenda and engage Extension in strengthening local partnerships around
health education, intervention, and policy development.
Research in Brief [All
2/2002 Research in Brief articles]
- Conflict-Laden Issues: A Learning Opportunity
- Corp, Mary K.; Darnell, Tom
Extension faculty has opportunities to bring people together to solve
problems. A simple process finds solutions to a problem with herbicide
drift. The process provided five key "findings:" 1) Finding
balance between reason and emotion is crucial; 2) Having a participatory
process facilitates buy-in; 3) Learning to solve conflicts provides
long term benefit(s); 4) Facilitating is a role Extension is uniquely
suited to fill; and 5) Extension staff should be trained in facilitation.
The authors argue that Extension faculty should play a role in developing
this capacity to resolve conflicts.
- Measuring and Benchmarking Customer Satisfaction:
Implications for Organizational and Stakeholder Accountability
- Radhakrishna, Rama
Customer satisfaction has become an important performance measurement
tool for many organizations, and Cooperative Extension is no exception.
Clemson Extension Service conducted a customer satisfaction survey (CSS).
A total of 1,068 clients responded to a 14-item survey that elicited
data on Extension information use, satisfaction with services, and demographic
information. Overall, findings indicated that customers were very satisfied
with the service from Clemson Extension, and a majority indicated that
the programs were up-to-date, accurate, and relevant to their situations.
The CSS findings were benchmarked with two other states in the Southern
Region as standards of measurement.
- Factors Affecting the Location of Precision Farming
Technology Adoption in Tennessee
- Roberts, Roland K.; English, Burton C.; Larson, James A.
A group of Tennessee farmers indicated that they would benefit from
downloadable digitized soil maps and university precision farming training
programs for themselves, agricultural laborers, and agribusiness personnel.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is interested in
knowing where in Tennessee to allocate its scarce resources to enhance
precision farming programs. Data from a survey of Extension Agents and
the Census of Agriculture were use to develop five Logit regression
models to estimate the probabilities of precision farming technology
use in Tennessee's 95 counties. Counties with estimated probabilities
greater than 0.5 would be good candidates for precision farming programs.
- Assessment of Wildlife Depredation to Agricultural
Crops in New Jersey
- Drake, David; Grande, John
We documented wildlife depredation to vegetable, fruit, grain, and nursery
crops in New Jersey during the 2000-growing season. Our objectives were
to understand the economic impact wildlife has on agriculture and to
identify the most common wildlife species causing depredation so county
Extension agents can tailor strategies to minimize or eliminate wildlife
conflicts. We documented $1,767,404.77 worth of economic damage to agricultural
crops caused by at least 10 wildlife species. Our results may be used
to support policies to reduce/eliminate conflicts between agriculture
and wildlife and can aid county Extension agents in making cost-effective
wildlife damage management recommendations to farmers.
- Student Wellness Needs in Rural Appalachia
- Summers, Sally; Leary, Paul
The study reported here determined the youth risk behaviors of students
in a rural high school. A 44-item questionnaire adapted from the Youth
Risk Survey developed at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
was administered. Findings indicate that some issues of national concern
were not confirmed in this West Virginia sample. Tobacco and steroid
use were not significant issues in this study. The areas of suicide
ideation and food choices, however, highlighted areas of concern. Implications
for practice are proposed.
- Farmers' Markets: Consumer Trends, Preferences,
and Characteristics
- Govindasamy, Ramu; Italia, John; Adelaja, Adesoji
The study reported here provides an overview of attitudes, preferences,
and characteristics of consumers who shop at farmers' markets. The results,
based on a consumer survey of 336 patrons of New Jersey farmers' markets,
revealed that absence of a market in customers' vicinity, lack of knowledge,
and inconvenience in terms of time and location were the main reasons
for not patronizing these markets. On average, consumers spent $16 per
visit, and the majority had attended between two to four different farmers'
markets. The majority visited these facilities once a week, once every
2 weeks, or once a month.
Ideas at Work [All
2/2002 Ideas at Work articles]
- Building Strong Communities Through Mediation
- Lambarth, Janet Kiser
The subject of the article is development of mediation education in
Spokane, Washington, by Washington State University Cooperative Extension.
The author discusses the value of mediation as an alternative dispute
resolution process. She outlines the reasons for introducing the program
and actions taken to implement it, and details the documented impacts
on community, personal, and professional life of the mediation training
for the 110 adults in the program. Mediation is recommended as a way
of restoring civility, transforming individual behavior, and building
community.
- Evaluating a Diversity Educational Resource in
Cooperative Extension
- Ingram, Patreese D.; Radhakrishna, Rama
A variety of efforts are under way to help build the capacity of Cooperative
Extension to effectively serve culturally diverse communities. In Pennsylvania,
one such effort was the development of Diverse Issues, a quarterly
newsletter. The newsletter is mailed to Extension professionals across
the state. This article describes this "idea at work" and
the feedback received from those who read it. Extension professionals
generally consider Diverse Issues as a valued diversity educational
resource.
- Extension Assistance for Integrated Pest Management
Programs in K-12 Schools
- Stier, John C.; Delahaut, Karen A.; Pellitterri, Philip J.; Williamson,
R. Chris; Becker, Brian P.
We developed a training and education program in integrated pest management
(IPM) for K-12 school building and grounds managers. The purpose of
the program was to reduce exposure of children to pesticides at schools.
Web-based and hard copy resource materials were developed in a cooperative
effort between University of Wisconsin-Extension and the state's Department
of Agriculture. Since 1999, personnel at 46% of Wisconsin's public schools
have received training, education, and assistance in developing IPM
programs. This high degree of voluntary participation is expected to
affect pending legislation aimed at mandating IPM in schools.
- Improving Science Education in the 4-H Geology
Project
- Bourdeau, Virginia D.
To move the 4-H Geology project beyond a focus on rock and mineral collections
and introduce youth to science concepts and geologic processes, a 4-H
Earth Science Leader Guide was developed. State-wide workshops and
the creation of Earth Science Materials Kits were key elements
of the first year's success. The result is both an increase in youth
enrollment in the 4-H Geology project and an increased county staff
capacity to support science education programs.
- Development of a Dairy Management Information Web
Site
- Chapa, A. M.; Smith, J. W.; Ely, L. O.; Gilson, W. D.; Nakazawa,
M.
"The Dairy Manager" Web site was developed to provide producers
access to current, reliable management information. The site is designed
for efficient use by the producer or county Extension educator and contains
compiled, reviewed, specific, and current dairy management information.
The site is updated frequently and a panel of experts in various fields
related to dairy production and management review the material prior
to posting to the Web site.
- Training and Supporting Volunteer Mentors for Juvenile
Offenders in Urban Gardening
- Konen, Joseph H.
This article summarizes 3 years of experience in training and supporting
volunteer mentors for work with juvenile offenders in an urban gardening
program. The program parameters are given, and the methods for selection,
orientation, and training of volunteers are both described and commented
upon.
- Building Partnerships to Address Challenging Social
Problems
- Kazura, Kerry; Temke, Mary; Toth, Kristina; Hunter, Barbara
A parent in prison creates disruption and stress for the entire family
system. In order to provide family programming to this high-risk population,
a partnership was created among the University of New Hampshire (UNH)
Cooperative Extension, UNH Department of Family Studies, and New Hampshire's
Department of Corrections. This partnership is called The Family
Connection Project. Programming objectives are to strengthen at-risk
families and improve the healthy development of children with incarcerated
parents through a family-centered, strength-based approach. The acquisition
of positive parenting/relationship skills is expected to increase protective
factors and decrease risk factors in families with an incarcerated parent.
Tools of the Trade [All
2/2002 Tools of the Trade articles]
- Tabloids--A Tool for Public Issues Education
- Bloome, Peter; Duncan, Andrew; Rost, Robert; Novak, Theresa
An old-fashioned vehiclethe tabloid-format publicationremains
a cost-effective method for delivering public issues education. Since
1998, three high-profile public issues have been addressed in tabloids
that were distributed as inserts in all the daily newspapers in Oregon.
These publications, which have multiple purposes, also have multiple
payoffs. Each tabloid's impact is determined by the level of public
interest in the issue and by how well the publication carries out its
educational objectives. A carefully managed review process allows heavily
entrenched factions to be successfully engaged. Significant financial
as well as human resources are required for production of a public issue
tabloid.
- Using the Focus Group Process to Assess the Needs
of a Growing Latino Population
- Malek, Faye
Five focus groups were conducted in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, to
assess the needs of the local Latino population. The assessment was
conducted to determine how Manitowoc County UW-Extension could assist
Latinos in their efforts to effectively assimilate into their new communities.
Making the focus group process culturally appropriate improves the likelihood
of obtaining useful data.
- Transforming Extension as the Agricultural Sector
Changes
- Gustafson, Cole
The agricultural sector continues to undergo a major transformation
from traditional family farms to industrial, vertically integrated producers
of differentiated branded products. As this transformation occurs, the
financial structure, sources of credit, and managerial strategies employed
by these firms also evolves. This article introduces Extension agents
to the rapidly changing industry structure, methods of credit underwriting,
loan products, or channels of fund delivery being applied to large-scale
farming operations, more accurately described as "agribusinesses."
- Maximizing Agents' Effectiveness: Virginia Cooperative
ExtensionÃs Answer to Training New Extension Agents
- Gibson, Jerry D.; Brown, Almeshia S.
The New Agent Training Program is required for all new Extension agents
employed by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). The New Agent Training
Program is based on the programming skills inventory and the background
they bring to VCE. This article is to shares with other Extension or
related professionals the efforts that VCE is taking to train new Extension
agents in necessary skills outside their subject matter training.
- "Selling Timber Without a Timber Inventory":
An Exercise for County Agents and Foresters
- Daniels, Bob
Many landowners do not receive full value for their timber when it is
sold. Extension foresters and county agents often encourage landowners
to have an inventory of their timber when they make a timber sale, but
most still do not. The exercise described in this article is an enlightening
and enjoyable activity for landowner meetings about marketing forest
products and illustrates the necessity of timber inventory and human
relationships in marketing timber.
Questions & Answers for Authors
- Q&A for Authors
Submission Instructions
- Instructions for Submitting Articles
Review and Evaluation Process
- Review and Evaluation Process
Editorial Committees and Board
- Board
- Manuscript Review Committee
Entire Issue
- February 2002
- Contains the entire February 2002 issue in one page. Choose this selection
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Copyright © by Extension
Journal, Inc. ISSN 1077-5315.
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