Overview of CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service
The CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is a part of the world’s largest non-traditional educational system, the Cooperative Extension System, which can be found in almost all of the 3,150 counties in the 50 states as well as all of the U.S. Territories. The CES is the third major component of Land Grant Universities, along with Instruction and Research that educates and assists clientele. It is a partnership between the Federal, State, and Local governments with responsibility for providing science-based information and educational programs in agriculture, natural resources and human resources.
The extension program is overseen in each county by a County Administrator who is responsible for all CTAHR resources and activities in the county. There are currently about 65 dedicated County Agents and Specialists performing extension work and are supported by many more staff throughout the State.
Most of the County Extension Agents and many Specialists are University of Hawai ‘i faculty members who work from off-campus extension offices throughout the State. County agents are available for individual consultations or can provide educational workshops and short courses covering topics in agriculture, home economics, family living, 4-H and other youth activities, nutrition and health. Educational materials such as brochures, publications, and videos are also available at extension offices for use by the general public. Service s provided by county agents are generally provided free of charge but workshops and other organized activities may charge a nominal fee.
The Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center provides insect identification, nematode counts, and disease diagnosis; soil, plant, water and feed analysis; and seed sales of cultivars of vegetables and papayas developed by the College.
Read History of Extension in Hawai‘i
