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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
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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.
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Grants & Contracts
24.2%
Extn. Assn
9.8% County 28.2%
Federal 9.3%
State 28.3%
Donor .2%
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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)
Agriculture in New York State
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
Agriculture in New York State
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
Agriculture in New York State
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
Agriculture in New York State
Field Crops
Corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, hay, potato, dry beans
Maple Syrup
Ranks #2 in USA
Floriculture Crops
Mainly bedding and garden plants
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Key ingredients:
Local knowledge
Community wisdom
Research & scholarly knowledge
Program Influences
CCE Programs
National Priorities
Applied Research
Program Work Teams
College Priorities
Local Needs
Cornell Cooperative Extension
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
Keys for Success, continued
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
Keys for Success, continued
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
Keys for Success, continued
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
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/
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
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