1. dillard oct 31 rimisp 2010

The integration of research and extension in the

USA – the experience at Cornell University

Helene Dillard, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Professor, Plant Pathology

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York, USA

Cooperative Extension Structure

Federal Government

Land Grant University System

National Cooperative Extension Service

Cornell University

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Working together for a strong partnership to assist

communities

Federal Government

1862 Established a Land Grant University in every

state

1914 Established the national Cooperative

Extension Service and placed this service under the

guidance of the United States Department of

Agriculture

Agriculture Research Service

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Competitive Grants

Land Grant University

Land Grant Universities were established under the

Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. Their purpose was

to educate citizens in agriculture, home economics,

mechanical arts, and practical professions.

The result was the establishment of at least one

institution of higher education in each state

National Cooperative Extension

Service

Formalized in 1914 with the Smith Lever Act

The Act established the partnership between the land grant agricultural colleges and the US Department of Agriculture to provide for cooperative agricultural extension work

Federal funding is provided to support the national system

Nationwide non-credit educational network

Each state and territory has an office at its land grant university and a network of local or regional offices

United States of America Federal Government

United States Department of Agriculture

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Smith Lever

Federal Form Funds

(Extension)

Land Grant

University (LGU)

Extension Faculty

and

Extension Field Staff

Hatch

Federal Form Funds

(Research)

Land Grant

University (LGU)

All Faculty

Competitive Grants

Land Grant

University (LGU)

All Faculty

and

Extension Field Staff

Extension Hierarchy


Established in 1911 - “Extension Teaching”

Headquarters are at Cornell University

Hosted in the College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences (CALS) and in the College of Human

Ecology

CALS:

3,200 Undergraduate enrollment

1,000 Graduate Enrollment

380 Professorial Faculty in the College

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York


Mission Statement:

The Cornell Cooperative Extension educational system

enables people to improve their lives and communities

through partnerships that put experience and

research knowledge to work.


Is a partnership involving…

412 extension educators in New York State

200 faculty and staff in CALS and Human Ecology

40,000 volunteers participating in both program

and organizational leadership


Is a partnership involving…

103 land-grant institutions across the United States

Statewide and community agencies, organizations,

and businesses

New York State’s people

Sources of Income, 2008


Grants & Contracts

24.2%

Extn. Assn

9.8% County 28.2%

Federal 9.3%

State 28.3%

Donor .2%


Five major program areas; guided by a program

council comprised of stakeholders, faculty, and

extension field staff

Agriculture and Food Systems

Youth Development

Natural Resources and Environment

Quality of Life for Individuals and Families

Community and Economic Vitality

Agriculture and Food Systems

Agriculture in New York State

$4.5 billion contribution to the farm economy

Agriculture is 25% of the state’s land area

34,000 farms

7.5 million acres

(3 million hectares)


The USDA defines small farms as farms with

$250,000 or less in sales of agricultural

commodities per year

In the US, 91% of all farms are small farms

In New York, 90% of the farms are small farms

The number of farmers markets in New York State

has increased from 240 in 2000, to 475 farmers

markets in 2010


Milk is New York’s leading agricultural product

Milk sales account for one-half of total New York

agricultural receipts

New York is the 3rd leading milk producer in the

USA

Milk production in 2007 was 12.1 billion pounds

(5.5 billion kilos) with a value over $2.4 billion

Other livestock include: cattle, hogs, pigs, sheep,

lambs, chickens, turkeys


Fruits (valued at $333 million)

Apples (rank #2 in USA)

Grapes (rank #3 in USA), wine and juice

Tart cherries, pears, strawberries

Vegetables (valued at $648 million)

Cabbage (rank #2 in USA)

Sweet corn (rank #4 in USA)

Snap beans (rank #4 in USA)

Onion, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber, squash, pea, etc


Field Crops

Corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, hay, potato, dry beans

Maple Syrup

Ranks #2 in USA

Floriculture Crops

Mainly bedding and garden plants


New York Agriculture is diverse and widespread

throughout the state.

Extension educators must

Understand the farming community in which they work

Have good communication/people skills; ability to

facilitate discussions

Have cutting edge subject matter knowledge

Use appropriate extension/teaching techniques for

different audiences


Key ingredients:

Local knowledge

Community wisdom

Research & scholarly knowledge

Program Influences

CCE Programs

National Priorities

Applied Research

Program Work Teams

College Priorities

Local Needs


Individual Consultations

Classes

Short Courses

Applied Research

Mass Media

Distance Learning

Community Collaboration

Training for Extension Educators

Orientation for new staff

Technical Training (in subject areas)

Process Training (planning, evaluation)

Workshops

Online courses

Study groups

Program work teams

Attendance at professional societies

Keys for Success

Extension work is linked to and supported by

federal, state, and local governments

There is an extension system in each state

Reliable source of funding

Local offices in the counties are staffed with skilled

extension agents/educators with a college

education (Bachelor and Master degrees) – this

educational requirement is very important

Keys for Success, continued

OR

___% Research + __% Classroom Teaching ___% Research + __% Extension Teaching

Some university professors are assigned formal extension

responsibilities - for example, 70% research and 30% extension


Extension work is integrated with university research

and university teaching - Integration of teaching,

research, extension

There is a strong University commitment to Extension

work with stakeholders (farmers)

A strong working relationship is established between

local extension educators and university educators

There is joint participation of extension educators and

professors in field trials, field demonstrations, and

preparation of fact sheets, bulletins, and web pages


Access to computers, digital technologies and distance learning facilities

Access to radio and television

Ability to travel for on-farm visits and troubleshooting

Access to professional development opportunities

Ability to earn a good salary

Extension educator is trusted and respected in the community


Programs for rural youth and beginner farmers

Programs that demonstrate the health benefits of

nutritious food from the farm

Programs on farm business management

Programs on environmentally safe and sustainable

food production (reduced pesticide use)

Programs focused on developing long term,

sustainable solutions

Extension methodologies

Information flow is complex and multidirectional

between research, extension and the farmer

Learning occurs as a continuous dialogue among

groups rather than linear descending teacher

(technical) to student (producer)

Successful strategies promote interaction and

creation of “continuous social conversations”

Communication is very important

Printed materials - text, photos, graphics, maps,

databases

Audio (radio), video (television), rural telecasts,

telephone helplines

Face to face – producer discussion groups

Internet technology – websites, webinars, online

videos (you-tube), digital diagnostics, Facebook,

Twitter, blogs

Cellular phones – “apps” (=applications, downloads

for i-phones)

Extension 2010 and beyond

Food security

Strong markets

Quality of life

End to poverty

Emerging issues

Technological innovation

Strengthen small and medium size agricultural

producers

Final Thoughts on Extension

Focused on education for farmers & their

communities

Linked to research based knowledge from the

universities, research centers, and extension centers

Collaboration with the people in the communities

Trusted in the community

Not biased

No regulatory function

There are challenges!

The extension system is not perfect!

Budget cuts; insufficient funds; local vs regional

presence

Hiring professors who want to do extension work in

addition to research

Hiring extension workers who want to help others

improve their quality of life

Communicating in many different ways

Maintaining the capacity to respond to many

different and competing needs in the community

Internet resources

http://www.rimisp.org

http://www.inia.cl

http://extensionenespanol.net/index.cfm

http://www.e-agriculture.org

http://iica.int

http://www.rimisp.org/

http://www.inia.cl/

http://extensionenespanol.net/index.cfm

http://www.e-agriculture.org/



http://iica.int/

Internet resources

http://www.worldbank.org

http://www.extension.org/

http://www.cce.cornell.edu

http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/

http://www.worldbank.org/

http://www.extension.org/

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/

http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/

Global Extension Resource

Strengthening Agricultural Extension and Advisory

Systems: Procedures for Assessing, Transforming,

and Evaluating Extension Systems

Written by Burton E. Swanson & Riikka Rajalahti

Published by The World Bank

Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper

45

US Agency for International Development

Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS)

Proposal funded for $9 million in 2010

Partnership includes 5 universities and 7 organizations:

Michigan State, Cornell, UC Davis, University of Florida,

North Carolina A&T

Catholic Relief Services, Cultural Practices LLC,

International Food Policy Research Institute, Winrock

Intl, Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education,

Sasakawa Africa Association, Alliance for a Green

Revolution in Africa

USAID MEAS Project - 2010

20 Target Countries

Focus on three major key areas

Develop a wide range of training materials

Conduct case studies and pilot projects

Conduct in-depth assessments of extension in 20 target

countries

USAID MEAS Project

Bangladesh Mali

Cambodia Mozambique

Ethiopia Nepal

Ghana Nicaragua

Guatemala Rwanda

Haiti Senegal

Honduras Tajikistan

Kenya Tanzania

Liberia Uganda

Malawi Zambia