Extension

My extension aims are similar to my research goals and include introducing production practices to growers and other stakeholders that offer multiple production benefits. Thus, my goal includes establishing an integrated extension alliance. This alliance would consist of researchers and extension specialists representing several agricultural disciplines (e.g., plant pathologist, soil scientist, etc.). The aim of the alliance would be to improve the economic and ecological sustainability of the farming community through interdisciplinary extension efforts. Additionally, it has been suggested that the cause of pest management failure is not always the fault of growers, but may be traced to research or extension Tour of Ag fieldoutreach levels. If researchers, extension personnel, and growers interact more closely, perhaps this will reduce the number of pest management failures.

A final extension interest is to teach and encourage farmers to independently conduct simple on-farm studies so that they may not have to completely rely on the findings of others. It is an arduous task for extension and research personnel to address all farmers’ production problems through individual research projects. The obtainment of credible facts through simple on farm testing may provide farmers the information required to improve the economical viability of their cropping system through simple changes in production and pest management practices.