A financial training program designed by Cooperative Extension specialists was provided to over 2,000 USDA/FSA borrowers from the Northeast during the period 1994-1999. Key to the success of the workshops was an in-depth, user-friendly curriculum that evolved over time, eventually replacing...

In order to test whether farmer training and farmer health risks determine adoption of Integrated Pest and Production Management (IPPM) in Zimbabwe, a Poisson regression model was developed. The empirical analysis uses measures of farmer awareness of IPPM practices, pesticide health risks, labor...

A Cal Poly introductory agribusiness class is taught via distance education to a Southern California junior college as part of a pilot project of a USDA grant to increase diversity in agribusiness education. Live, interactive video presents new challenges to on-campus students, distant students...

In this paper, we use content analysis to examine the use of sources by US and UK newspaper reporters from 1990 to 1999. Positive (benefit) or negative (risk) messages are correlated with the "source" type in order to determine the degree of source-message heterogeneity in media reporting of...

Extension educators have explored different methods for collecting stakeholder input, but a suitable methodology has not been agreed on. The Michigan State University Extension dairy team works with an advisory board and also collected formal stakeholder input through ten regional partner group...

A risky business environment for agricultural producers coupled with human risk elements unique to family businesses, points to the need for extension programs that integrate traditional risk management concepts into curriculums focused on the potentially unique educational needs of family farm...

This study explores the partial redirection of university extension services to the golf industry given the farmer-clientele's declining demand. Econometric results indicate that the clientele's demand depends on the golf facility's size, the managers' industry experience and the urgency of...

Arguments about using computer facilities to classroom teaching have gained a lot of attention over time. Using the computer facilities will be helpful to demonstrate real world applications, while poor data or inappropriate case studies might reduce the confidence in applying computer programs...

This paper gives a general mathematical definition of an institution, and presents an explicit formal method by which to incorporate institutions in a standard general equilibrium model. We illustrate our concept using a modified Prisoner's dilemma game in which property rights over natural...

This study examined two questions related to the adoption of triple-bag storage technology for farmers storing cowpeas in West Africa. First the effect of an extension program, focused on village demonstrations, on adoption was considered. Second, the effect of radio messages to augment this...