Integrating Extension Education and On-Farm Research

This paper reports on an integrated extension project that combines an advanced crop production management educational program with on-farm research comparisons of alternative crop production technologies. The objectives of the project are to help producers determine the most profitable production strategies for their farm and to increase the effectiveness of technology transfer from research to adoption. The producer participants utilize farm records analyses and replicated on-farm comparisons to evaluate strategies for their farms. The trials are conducted using standard field equipment. The benefits and costs of the project were evaluated using a present value model. The analysis showed an internal rate of return of 28% for a group of 40 participants in the project. This represents a significant return to extension efforts even though only a limited number of producers may participate and significantly increases the rate of adoption of new technology.