Relationships between selected characteristics of Tennessee Grade A Dairy producers and their farm operations, and the numbers and types of contacts they had with Extension, the numbers and types of Extension's recommended production practices they used, the numbers of cows they owned, and their herd average pounds of milk produced per cow in 1979

The purpose of this study was to characterize Grade A Dairy producers and their farm operations according to their use of recommended production practices, their production levels, the size of their operation, and the numbers and types of contacts they had with Extension. A survey was conducted of 885 Grade A Dairy producers in a total of 41 major Tennessee dairy counties, and the data obtained were analyzed for this study. Relationships between dependent and independent variables were determined by an analysis of Variance F test, and the .05 probability level was used to determine significance. Major findings included:

1. The average Grade A Dairy producer in 1979 was 44 years old, had at least a high school education, had 393 acres of farmland, owned 91 cows, employed two full-time workers, harvested 81 acres of silage, had 97 acres of improved pasture, and used an average of 16 of the 30 recommended production practices.

2. Grade A Dairy producers had attended an average of two Extension meetings, an average of one Extension dairy meeting, made an average of six telephone calls to the Extension office, received an average of four farm visits from the Extension agent, and had an average of 14 total contacts with Extension during the previous year.

3. Data revealed that Grade A Dairy producers who were younger had completed at least a high school education, had large farm operations, and had high production levels, had significantly more contacts with Extension than other producers. In addition it was revealed that producers who double cropped their corn, had their forage tested, limed high percentages of their pasture as to soil test recommendations, fertilized high percentages of their pasture as to soil recommendations, fed their cows all the hay and/or silage and pasture they would eat, fed their cows grain as to their milk production levels, bred high percentages of their cows artificially, bred a high percentage of their heifers artificially, checked cows for pregnancy regularly, kept breeding records, kept DHIA, DHIR, or "Basic" milk production records, raised a high percentage of their own herd replacements, checked cows ready to calve a high number of times per day, had high percentages of their heifers freshen within 24-27 months, identified heifer calves as to size at birth, checked milking machines within six months prior to this survey, dried udders with single service towels, dipped teats after milking, used a dry cow treatment for mastitis, and had used a high number of total practices and had significantly more contacts with Extension than other producers who were not using these recommended practices.

4. Grade A Dairy producers who were younger, had at least a high school education, had large farm operations, attended a high number of dairy meetings, made a high number of visits to the Extension office, made a high number of telephone calls to the Extension office, received a high number of farm visits from the Extension agent, had a high number of total contacts with Extension, and had high production levels used significantly more of Extension's recommended practices than other producers.

5. It was determined that Grade A Dairy producers who had completed at least a high school education, had a large farm operation, attended a high number of Extension meetings, made a high number of visits to the Extension office, made a high number of telephone calls to the Extension office, received a high number of farm visits from the Extension Agent, had a high number of total contacts with Extension, and had high levels of production, owned significantly more cows than other producers. Data further revealed that producers who double cropped their corn had their forage tested, limed high percentages of the pasture as to soil test recommendations, fertilized high percentages of their pasture as to soil test recommendations, fed their cows grain as to their milk production levels, fed their cows grain as they were being milked, checked cows regularly for pregnancy, kept DHIA, DHIR, or "Basic" milk production records, kept commercial farm records, kept dry cows separate from the milking herd, checked their milking machines within six months prior to this survey, used a dry cow treatment for mastitis, and had used a high number of total recommended practices owned significantly more cows than other producers.

6. The data revealed that Grade A Dairy producers who were younger in age, had completed a high school education, owned a high number of cows, employed a high number of full-time workers, attended a high number of Extension meetings, attended a high number of dairy meetings, made a high number of telephone calls to the Extension office, received a high number of farm visits from the Extension Agent, and had a high number of total contacts with Extension and produced a significantly higher herd average pounds of milk per cow than other producers. Data further revealed that producers who double cropped their corn, had their forage tested, had adequate supplemental pasture, clipped high percentages of their pasture, limed high percentages of their pasture as to soil test recommendations, fertilized high percentages of their pasture as to soil test recommendations, fed their cows all the hay and/or silage and pasture they would eat, fed their cows as to their milk production levels, bred a high percentage of their cows artificially, bred a high percentage of their heifers artificially, checked their cows regularly for pregnancy, kept breeding records, kept DHIA, DHIR, or "Basic" milk production records, kept commercial farm records, kept dry cows separate from the milking herd, raised a high percentage of their own herd replacements, checked cows ready to calve a high number of times per day, had a high percentage of their heifers freshen within 24-27 months. Identified their heifer calves as to sire at birth, had their milking machines checked within six months prior to this survey, dried udders with single service towels, dipped teats after milking, used a dry cow treatment for mastitis, and used a high total number of Extension's recommended practices produced a significantly higher herd average pounds of milk than other producers.

Implications and recommendations also were included in the study.