Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Farmers' Perspectives Of Michigan State University Extension: Trends And Lessons From 1996 And 1999, Michelle Campo, Murari Suvedi, Maria Lapinski

Michelle L. Campo

In 1994, Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) reorganized into Area of Expertise teams (AOE) linking county agents and specialists around specific commodity groups' needs. A statewide survey was conducted in 1996 and 1999 to determine agricultural producers' educational needs and perceptions of MSUE. Participation rates among full-time farmers in MSUE programs are high. The number of part-time farmers is increasing, and these farmers are participating less in MSUE programs. Farmers want one-on-one interaction with Extension agents. Marketing, business management and farm economics were named as important educational needs by significantly more farmers in 1999 than in 1996.