Masters Theses

Date of Award

6-1988

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr

Committee Members

Roy R. Lessly, John Jared

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to characterize Tennessee corn producers as to their farming operations, use of recommended production practices, their contacts with Extension agents, and to determine the relationships among these variables.

A total of 1,759 personal interviews were conducted by Extension agents in Tennessee during the fall of 1985. Chi square was used to determine the strength of the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Chi square values which achieved the .05 level of probability were accepted as significant.

Major findings include the following;

1. Seventy four percent of the corn producers were characterized as being full-time farmers in 1985. Twenty-six percent reported farming on a part-time basis.

2. More than half (51.7 percent) of the producers were under 47 years of age. The mean age was 46.

3. Over half (57.6 percent) of the corn producers indicated dairy livestock as their major source of farm income in 1985.

4. The mean number of acres of yellow corn harvested for grain was 115; the mean number of acres of white corn harvested for grain was 98.

5. There was a significant relationship between farming status and the number of contacts producers had with Extension. Full time farmers tended to have more Extension contacts than did part-time farmers.

6. That the producers' age was significantly related to the number of contacts with Extension agents over a 12 month period. Older producers (over 50) had fewer contacts than those under 40.

7. The producers' major source of income was significantly related to their number of Extension contacts. Dairy producers tended to have more contacts with Extension agents than livestock (i.e., beef, swine) and row crop producers.

8. That of the 1985 acres of corn crop owned, cash rented, and share-cropped, only share-cropped corn was significantly related to the number of Extension contacts. Corn producers who share-cropped more acres had more contacts with Extension agents than producers who share-cropped fewer acres.

9. Producers 47 years and younger tended to double crop, grow no-till corn, scout for insects, plant in April, plant 7 to 9 inches between corn plants in the row, desire higher plant populations, use University of Tennessee Soil Testing Laboratory, apply more nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizer, and use more lime per acre than producers over 47 years of age.

10. Full-time farmers tended to double crop, grow no-till corn, scout for insects, plant corn in March, April and May, desire higher corn plant populations, and apply more nitrogen and potash per acre than did part-time farmers.

11. Twelve of the 20 corn production practices were significantly related to producers' farming status. Full-time farmers were more likely than were part-time farmers to be using 12 of the 20 production practices studied. These 12 practices were as follows: double cropping corn, corn grown no-till, scouted for insects, planted corn in March, planted corn in April, planted corn in May, distance between corn rows, plant populations per acre, pounds of nitrogen applied per acre, pounds of potash applied per acre and tons of lime applied per acre of corn grown.

12. Nine of the 20 corn production practices studied were significantly related to producers' major source of farm income. The direction of relationship varied however depending upon specific practices. Row crop producers were more likely than dairy-livestock producers to double crop corn, use a recommended mid-season variety, plant some corn in April, desire a higher plant population per acre, and apply more pounds of nitrogen per acre of corn grown. On the other hand, the corn producers whose major source of farm income was dairy-livestock were more likely than row crop producers to have scouted corn for insects, to have planted some corn in May and to have planted some corn in June. The direction of relationship could not be determined for the variable regarding distance between corn rows.

13. Sixteen of the 20 corn production practices studied were significantly related to the number of contacts corn producers had with Extension agents over a 12 month period. The direction of relationship between Extension contacts and the planting of corn in April and the distance between corn rows and between plants in the row were inconclusive. For the other practices it was found that producers who were in the high Extension contact group were more likely than others to use double cropping, to use no-till, to scout for insects, to use recommended varieties, to plant some corn in May, plant population desired per acre, use of the U.T. soil testing lab and pounds of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and limestone applied per acre of corn grown.

Implications and recommendations also were made.

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