Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Randol G. Waters

Committee Members

John Todd, Donald Fowlkes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize Carter County, Tennessee hurley tobacco producers and their farms, the number and types of contacts the producers had with the Agricultural Extension Service, and their use of selected tobacco production

practices.

The population for the study was all of the tobacco producers in Carter County during the 1999 growing season. The sample of 150 producers was drawn using a true random sample. After the study sample was drawn, a pilot study sample of 10 producers was randomly drawn from the remaining producers.

The survey instrument was compiled by combining questions from surveys used by Cynthia McCall's 1994 study (8) and Michael Barry's 1998 study (2). Dr. Donald Fowlkes, Dr. Randol Waters, and Dr. John Todd assisted by critiquing the survey. The areas covered by the survey included producer and farm characteristics; transplant production, fertility, and weed control; topping, harvesting, and curing; the number of and type of Extension contacts; and the producers' opinion of current tobacco educational programming, their future needs for tobacco educational programming, and their future production plans over the next five years.

The collection of data was completed through a direct mailing in the Spring of 2000. An initial letter was sent with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a survey. A post card reminder was sent approximately one week after the initial letter. A follow-up letter with a second survey and self-addressed envelope was sent approximately one week after the post card reminder.

The survey data were analyzed using the SPSS 10.0.05 for Windows statistical program. Descriptive statistics including means, modes, standard deviations, and frequencies were used to describe the data. Chi Square tests were used for the nominally scaled variables, and t-tests were used for the intervaly scaled variables.

Major findings included the following:

A majority of the producers were 40 years old or older with some type of off-farm employment.

A majority had a high school education or less, but the educational level had increased compared to a study done in the 1960's.

A large percentage of the producers grew three acres or less.

The producers in the higher yield group were more likely to attend tobacco meetings and/or field days.

A surprisingly high percentage of producers did not soil test, but those who had either received one or more visits from an Extension agent, had made one or more phone calls to the Extension office, or had visited the Extension office one or more times were more likely to soil test.

Approximately 61 percent of the tobacco plants in Carter County were grown in a conventional plant bed, but producers who attended one or more tobacco meetings and/or field days were more likely to use float bed plants.

Producers who were 60 years of age or over were more likely to make visits to the Extension office, while those in the 18 to 39 age group were more likely to make phone calls. Producers in the 40 to 59 age group were more likely to have received a tobacco related farm visit.

Producers were more likely to top their tobacco at an earlier stage when they had attended one or more tobacco meetings and/or field days.

Producers were more likely to allow a period of time closer to five weeks between topping and cutting when they had attended one or more tobacco meetings and/or field days.

Carter County tobacco producers responded that they were benefitting from current tobacco educational programming. Some general themes focused on pesticides and their application, new variety information, cost savings techniques, and general management. Some other themes centered around soil erosion, field curing structures, fertilizers, lime, float beds, greenhouse management, topping, and curing.

Producers were asked to suggest areas for future tobacco educational programs. Marketing information, labor laws, and contract buying were major topics mentioned as areas where future educational programs were needed.

Producers were asked about their future production plans over the next five years. Just over 49 percent did not plan to change their amount of production. Seventeen percent planned to not grow any tobacco. Twelve percent planned an increase in production of just over 51 percent. Twenty-two percent planned a decrease in production of 38 percent.

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