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Exploring Identities Of Extension Faculty And Educators As Science Communicators, Klae O'Brien, Carrie N. Baker, Sarah A. Bush, Maggie Elliot, Kattlyn J. Wolf May 2024

Exploring Identities Of Extension Faculty And Educators As Science Communicators, Klae O'Brien, Carrie N. Baker, Sarah A. Bush, Maggie Elliot, Kattlyn J. Wolf

Journal of Applied Communications

This research explored the relationship between University of Idaho (UI) Extension educators and faculty’s social identity as science communicators and their most-used communication type. This non-experimental, sequential, mixed-method study with a qualitative priority utilized surveys and interviews to gather data. This paper will focus on the qualitative and mixing components of the study. We used stratified purposive sampling based on location and most used communication type to select participants for interviews and conducted interviews to understand their social identities as science communicators. We identified five main themes: continual development, technology, research dissemination, evaluation for motivation, and community relationships. We employed …


Exploring The Social Media Health Information Seeking Patterns Of Rural Residents To Provide Communication Strategies For Extension, Catherine Sanders, Kristin Gibson, Allison R. Byrd, Tatevik Markosyan, Alexa J. Lamm Dec 2023

Exploring The Social Media Health Information Seeking Patterns Of Rural Residents To Provide Communication Strategies For Extension, Catherine Sanders, Kristin Gibson, Allison R. Byrd, Tatevik Markosyan, Alexa J. Lamm

Journal of Applied Communications

Communication capacity development is critical for Extension professionals, who work to bring agricultural and health research to the public. With social media being an almost ubiquitous communication channel, it has immense potential as a health communication resource for diverse and rural audiences. The current study, guided by an audience segmentation framework, explored the health communication patterns on social media of rural Georgia residents across demographic characteristics through a non-probability opt-in sampling online survey. Cluster analyses of social media users revealed three distinct groups: low, medium, and high users. Descriptive characteristics of each cluster were presented, to guide Extension health communication …


Where Do Smallholder Farmers Get Their Information? An Exploration Of The Sources Of Agricultural Information In Northwest Cambodia., Presley Nickens, David Ader, Jean Pierre Enriquez, Ricky Bates, Tom Gill, Sovanneary Huot, Lyda Hok, Srean Pao Aug 2023

Where Do Smallholder Farmers Get Their Information? An Exploration Of The Sources Of Agricultural Information In Northwest Cambodia., Presley Nickens, David Ader, Jean Pierre Enriquez, Ricky Bates, Tom Gill, Sovanneary Huot, Lyda Hok, Srean Pao

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

A significant emphasis on scaling up food security efforts is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030. Scaling up sustainable intensification efforts for Cambodian smallholder farmers is key since they face greater exposure to the uncertainties of climate change, globalizing markets, and rural-to-urban migration. One way to increase the effectiveness of efforts and the scaling up of sustainable intensification technologies is through improving access to information about production and marketing technologies. This study aimed to identify sources of information about sustainable technologies available to smallholders and barriers that may be preventing adoption. Information was gathered from …


Drivers Of Farmers’ Adoption Of Hermetic Storage Bags In Ghana, Namah Taku-Forchu, Misty D. Lambert, Michael S. Retallick, Jonathan D. Ulmer, George P. Opit Aug 2023

Drivers Of Farmers’ Adoption Of Hermetic Storage Bags In Ghana, Namah Taku-Forchu, Misty D. Lambert, Michael S. Retallick, Jonathan D. Ulmer, George P. Opit

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Post-harvest loss is a global challenge due to its serious threat to food security. Hermetic storage bags offer one way to combat the loss of food after harvest. The rate at which farmers adopt hermetic bags largely depends upon their access to information and training about the technology. The adoption of hermetic storage bags in Dormaa, Ghana, was the focus of this quantitative cross-sectional research study. This study sought to describe maize farmers’ perceptions of the hermetic storage bags in Dormaa, Ghana, based on the perceived innovation attributes and to ascertain farmers’ stages of adoption of the hermetic storage bags …


Casting A Critical Lens On Thailand’S Higher Education System: A Case Study Of Women’S Experiences As Agricultural Extension Faculty, Morgan A. Richardson Gilley, Richie Roberts, Kristin Stair, J. Joey Blackburn Aug 2023

Casting A Critical Lens On Thailand’S Higher Education System: A Case Study Of Women’S Experiences As Agricultural Extension Faculty, Morgan A. Richardson Gilley, Richie Roberts, Kristin Stair, J. Joey Blackburn

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The agricultural industry and higher education have traditionally been male-dominated spaces in the developing world. However, in recent decades, significant progress in female representation has been achieved in both sectors. Previous research has suggested that women in the Southeast Asian agricultural industry have been more empowered than women in other regions. However, women in Thailand’s agricultural postsecondary programs have been understudied. In response, this study examined the experiences and perceptions of women agricultural extension faculty in Thailand’s higher education system. Through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with women, three distinct themes emerged: (1) gendered disparities, (2) barriers to success in …


Dissecting The Roles Of Social Capital In Farmer-To-Farmer Extension: A Review, Colby J. Silvert, Willis Ochieng, Jose Perez Orozco, Ange Asanzi Dec 2022

Dissecting The Roles Of Social Capital In Farmer-To-Farmer Extension: A Review, Colby J. Silvert, Willis Ochieng, Jose Perez Orozco, Ange Asanzi

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Various types of relationships within a farmer-to-farmer (F2F) extension system can influence farmers’ access to advancement opportunities, resources, capacity building, and social and professional networks. Using a social capital theoretical lens, this review elucidates the nature of these relationships and networks to better understand how bonding, bridging, and linking social capital may be leveraged in positive and negative ways and how relationship dynamics relate to farmers’ power, opportunities, and gender equity. This research demonstrates that all three types of social capital are instrumental but play different and often complementary roles in F2F extension. While bonding social capital is crucial for …


The Global Climate Change Knowledge And Practices Of 4-H And Extension Youth Educators, Roberta H. Hunter, Hui-Hui Wang, Bryanna J. Nelson, Devarati Bhattacharya Sep 2022

The Global Climate Change Knowledge And Practices Of 4-H And Extension Youth Educators, Roberta H. Hunter, Hui-Hui Wang, Bryanna J. Nelson, Devarati Bhattacharya

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

4-H and Extension educators who work with youth are uniquely positioned to help them meaningfully learn about global climate change (GCC) in a way that connects to their everyday lives and interests. Yet we don’t have a baseline understanding of these educators’ knowledge of GCC or how they teach about it. This paper presents brief findings of a study intended to fill that gap in knowledge. Educators from six states responded to an online survey in 2020. GCC knowledge varied by topic and by educator instructional focus, with STEM and Civic Engagement educators scoring highest. Questions about greenhouse gasses and …


Perception And Conceptualization Of The Land-Grant Mission At A Land-Grant Institution, Audrey E. H. King, Quisto Settle, Dwayne Cartmell, Asya Cooley, Jeff Sallee Feb 2022

Perception And Conceptualization Of The Land-Grant Mission At A Land-Grant Institution, Audrey E. H. King, Quisto Settle, Dwayne Cartmell, Asya Cooley, Jeff Sallee

Journal of Applied Communications

While the three-part mission of the land-grant university has been a pivotal component of agriculture and natural resources in the U.S., the land-grant mission is not always well understood by all audiences, including faculty members who are the key deliverers of the land-grant mission. As such, it is important to understand how faculty members view the land-grant brand identity. A series of focus groups were conducted with tenure and non-tenure track faculty members at [university]. Faculty members’ perceptions of the university’s brand came out in four themes: overall description of the brand identity, connections to [City], university values, and increased …


Three Mini-Ethnographic Case Studies On Covid: Impacts On Greek Agricultural Sectors, Kim E. Dooley, Evangelos Vergos, Kyriaki Zinoviadou, Konstantinos Rotsios Jan 2022

Three Mini-Ethnographic Case Studies On Covid: Impacts On Greek Agricultural Sectors, Kim E. Dooley, Evangelos Vergos, Kyriaki Zinoviadou, Konstantinos Rotsios

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

COVID was politically polarizing, had global and public health impacts, and created havoc in supply chains. Social dilemmas caused by the pandemic were difficult, but also created opportunities to be resilient and innovative in agricultural extension education. This mini-ethnographic case study examined three Greek agricultural sectors from the perspectives of experts in extension and higher education. Data included semi-structured interviews, review of technical reports, and photographs in developing each case study. From the cross-case analysis, there were four emerging themes: environmental, economic, and social impacts and the innovative solutions used to address these concerns. What we have learned, and where …


Training, Trust, And Technology: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Latin American Extension Workers’ Experiences During Covid-19, Pablo Lamiño Jaramillo, Amy Boren-Alpizar, Sarahi Morales Vanegas, Carla Millares-Forno Jan 2022

Training, Trust, And Technology: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Latin American Extension Workers’ Experiences During Covid-19, Pablo Lamiño Jaramillo, Amy Boren-Alpizar, Sarahi Morales Vanegas, Carla Millares-Forno

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected people's lives around the world, including agricultural extension workers. To date, few studies have been conducted to understand the adaptation of extension services in Latin American countries during the pandemic. This mixed-methods study explored Latin-American extension professionals’ preparation to implement knowledge-sharing activities and sought to understand extension professionals' responsiveness to COVID-19. The results revealed significant differences in extension responsiveness, between field extension workers and in-office extension workers. Delving into this difference revealed that field extension professionals perceived lower responsiveness because they were not able to continue their pre-pandemic, face-to-face activities in the field with …


Whose Journey To Self-Reliance? Participation In The Journey To Self-Reliance And The Land-Grant Imaginary, Lia R. Kelinsky-Jones, Kim L. Niewolny Aug 2021

Whose Journey To Self-Reliance? Participation In The Journey To Self-Reliance And The Land-Grant Imaginary, Lia R. Kelinsky-Jones, Kim L. Niewolny

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Land-grant university and civil society development actors have long partnered with local and global communities to eliminate food insecurity. Despite the common aim of addressing food insecurity as a wicked problem, their approaches and designs differ in scope and scale. Similarly, levels of local stakeholder participation in agricultural development historically vary reflecting the complexity in relinquishing hierarchal decision-making power. In this pilot study, we investigated how participation is framed within the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) policy, “The Journey to Self-Reliance”. Subsequently, we sought to understand the implications of this framing on land-grant universities’ agricultural development aims in …


Talking Plants: Examining The Role Of Podcasts In Communicating Plant Pathology Knowledge, Melissa Lim, Rebecca Swenson May 2021

Talking Plants: Examining The Role Of Podcasts In Communicating Plant Pathology Knowledge, Melissa Lim, Rebecca Swenson

Journal of Applied Communications

Extension programs must constantly evaluate communication plans and platforms to determine if they are worth the investment of time, money, and resources. Podcasts are growing in popularity as a communication platform for education and entertainment. With the VARK model of learning styles and core plant pathology concepts as a guide, researchers evaluated the prevalence and type of plant pathology information in podcasts to better understand how podcasts could benefit Extension plant pathology programs. Using keywords related to plant pathology, researchers searched popular mobile podcast listening applications and evaluated relevant podcast episodes using content analysis methods. Results indicated few podcast shows …


Social Media Application In Agriculture Extension Programming For Small Scale Rural Farmers: Is Knowledge Impeding The Lack Of Adoption?, Stephan Moonsammy, Donna Marie Renn Moonsammy Aug 2020

Social Media Application In Agriculture Extension Programming For Small Scale Rural Farmers: Is Knowledge Impeding The Lack Of Adoption?, Stephan Moonsammy, Donna Marie Renn Moonsammy

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge level of farmers on basic computer literacy, social media use, and to explore which social and demographic factors affected their knowledge capacity. The study had a final sample of 176 participants from the northern, southern and central regions of Trinidad and Tobago. A survey instrument comprising of 14 multiple-choice questions with one accurate response was developed to decrease bias of farmers randomly selecting the accurate response. The questions addressed knowledge on basic computer and social media literacy. Analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc testing. Results indicated that there …


Identifyin Gcapacities An Extension Network May Need To Effectively Support The Professionalization Of Extension Providers, Kevan W. Lamm, Alexa J. Lamm, Kristin Davis, B. Jyothi Swaroop, Leslie D. Edgar Apr 2020

Identifyin Gcapacities An Extension Network May Need To Effectively Support The Professionalization Of Extension Providers, Kevan W. Lamm, Alexa J. Lamm, Kristin Davis, B. Jyothi Swaroop, Leslie D. Edgar

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Professionalization is a critical component of organizational capacity and productivity. Yet, rural advisory service (RAS) providers who are charged with disseminating research-driven techniques and ideas that enhance agricultural production and addressing local stakeholder needs are often overlooked in this area.One of the critical disconnects is the lack of consistent capacities for RAS networks to effectively support the professionalization of RAS providers. Based on a framework analyzing the typical milestones associated with professionalization efforts, capacity building, and social capital the study provides insights into the support mechanism needed for professionalization. Specifically, a Delphi a panel of 31 experts from 24 countries …


Utilizing Extension As A Resource In Disaster Response: Florida Extension’S Communication Efforts During The 2017 Hurricane Season, Moses R. Mike, Shelli D. Rampold, Ricky W. Telg, Angela B. Lindsey Feb 2020

Utilizing Extension As A Resource In Disaster Response: Florida Extension’S Communication Efforts During The 2017 Hurricane Season, Moses R. Mike, Shelli D. Rampold, Ricky W. Telg, Angela B. Lindsey

Journal of Applied Communications

Crisis communication plays a significant role for the different audiences for which it is designed. Hurricanes and other disasters have resulted in major economic damage and disruption of social norms for extended periods of time in communities across the globe. In such circumstances, the Cooperative Extension Service is often called to take an active role in preparation, response, and recovery. As part of the local emergency management team, local Extension offices are positioned to provide a research base, relevant information, and faculty. As such, citizens often look to Extension faculty members for emergency resources and expertise. However, standard communication methods …


Informal Science Engagement Via Extension Exhibits: A Pilot Evaluation Of Adult State Fairgoers’ Experiences, Attitudes, And Learning At Raising Nebraska, Jamie Loizzo, Nathan W. Conner, Karen J. Cannon Ph.D., Elizabeth Janning, Jeffrey Rollins Jan 2019

Informal Science Engagement Via Extension Exhibits: A Pilot Evaluation Of Adult State Fairgoers’ Experiences, Attitudes, And Learning At Raising Nebraska, Jamie Loizzo, Nathan W. Conner, Karen J. Cannon Ph.D., Elizabeth Janning, Jeffrey Rollins

Journal of Applied Communications

Science communication and informal science education collide in the context of Extension state fair exhibits for engaging public audiences in critical agricultural and natural resource issues impacting people’s daily lives. A need exists to employ systematic communication and education theory and techniques to effectively deliver scientific information in informal learning spaces. In an effort to apply and expand systematic instructional design thinking and research in informal science learning, this study piloted a touchscreen iPad survey evaluation (n= 93; ages 19-66) of adult state fairgoers’ demographics, experiences, attitudes, and learning during their visit to a 25,000 square-foot facility featuring an Extension …


Perceptions Of Trust: Communicating Climate Change To Cattle Producers, Ricky W. Telg, Lisa Lundy, Cassie Wandersee, Saqib Mukhtar, David Smith, Phillip Stokes Nov 2018

Perceptions Of Trust: Communicating Climate Change To Cattle Producers, Ricky W. Telg, Lisa Lundy, Cassie Wandersee, Saqib Mukhtar, David Smith, Phillip Stokes

Journal of Applied Communications

The Cattle and Climate Conversations Workshop for Cooperative Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the last activity funded through a multi-regional United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) grant, took place in October 2016 in Denver, Colorado, for Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives in the Southwest and Mountain West who work extensively with cattle producers. The purpose of this study was to identify how Extension agents and NRCS personnel in this workshop viewed the issue of “trust,” as it relates to communicating the topic of climate change to cattle producers. Three …


How Will Extension Contribute To The Sustainable Development Goals? A Global Strategy And Operational Plan, Kristen Davis Apr 2016

How Will Extension Contribute To The Sustainable Development Goals? A Global Strategy And Operational Plan, Kristen Davis

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

Extension remains a critical institution for supporting rural livelihoodsand the Sustainable Development Goals. The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) recently launched a ten-year strategic framework and five-year operational plan, both aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy was developed using a series of online and face-to-face consultations within the Forum, with expert feedbackat various stages. Using both an agricultural innovation systems and a capacity development framework, the strategy outlines strategic fields of action at three levels –individual, organizational, and system. The strategic fields of action include advocacy and support for increased investment in extension; professionalization; and knowledge …


Agricultural Extension And Market-Led Agrarian Reform: Findings From An Exploratory Case Study In Limpopo Province, South Africa, Daniel Tobin, Thomas Bruening, Mark Brennan, Brad Olson Aug 2012

Agricultural Extension And Market-Led Agrarian Reform: Findings From An Exploratory Case Study In Limpopo Province, South Africa, Daniel Tobin, Thomas Bruening, Mark Brennan, Brad Olson

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

n 1994, as South Africa was transitioning out of the apartheid era, the new, democratically elected government was forced to confront a largely polarized agricultural sector. Colonial rule and apartheid policies had systematically dispossessed the African majority from land. At the end of apartheid, the white minority, comprising less than 10% of the population, controlled 87% of total agricultural land. To confront the harsh realities of food insecurity and poverty, South Africa’s post-apartheid democracy implemented land and agrarian reform policies. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences and perceptions regarding these policies of emerging black farmers and …


Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Maize Varieties And Chemical Fertilizers In Mozambique, Eunice Cavane, Cynthia Donavan Oct 2011

Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Maize Varieties And Chemical Fertilizers In Mozambique, Eunice Cavane, Cynthia Donavan

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

In Mozambique, adoption of improved maize seed and chemical fertilizers is still limited. This study assessed farmers’ attitudes towards hybrid maize SC513, Nitrogenous (N) Phosphorous (P) Potassium (K), (NPK 12-24-12) and urea fertilizers in highlands and lowlands of the Manica District. The study determined the influence of farmers’ characteristics, attitudes, sources of information, and agro-ecological conditions on adoption of these technologies during 1995 through 2005. A questionnaire was administered during April and May 2006 with a randomly selected sample of 293 households. In general, farmers held positive attitudes towards improved maize varieties and chemical fertilizers, but the strength of attitudes …