Relationship between selected situation variables of Grade A producers FY 1970 and the number of activities reported, hours spent and contacts extension agents made in 41 Tennessee major dairy counties during FY 1971-75

Author

Bin Yatim Bahari

Date of Award

3-1980

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, Troy W. Hinton

Abstract

This study was concerned with the relationship between the situation of Grade A Dairymen in 41 Tennessee counties in FY 1970 and the number of activities conducted, hours spent and contacts Extension agents made during FY 1971-75. A data collection instrument was developed by State Dairy Extension and Education Specialists for use by county Extension agents in preparation of county plan of work projection.

The study purpose was to relate data collected by practice checklist survey in FY 1970 and the Tennessee Extension Management Information System (TEMIS) during FY1971-75 on the dairy work area. This included describing and analyzing information from each source and determining their relationship. Eight variables were identified and used as a basis for comparing the two groups of counties (i.e., above mean and below mean on each variable) as to number of Extension dairy activities conducted, number of hours Extension agents spent and number of contacts agents made on dairy subjects, audiences, place of teaching and teaching methods used.

The t test was used to determine the significance of observed differences in the number of activities reported, hours spent and contacts agents made between "above mean" and "below mean" counties. The differences were analyzed by dairy subjects, audiences, teaching methods and locations of teaching. The .100 level was accepted as being statistically significant. The Pearson r Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the percent of the Grade A producers using each of the 21 recommended dairy practices and the number of hours spent on related dairy subjects, and the relationship between the number of contacts agents made and the number of hours spent by dairy subjects, audiences, teaching methods and locations of teaching. The .050 level was used for purposes of rejecting the null hypothesis. Some of the major findings were:

1. The number activities reported, hours spent and contacts agents made while conducting activities concerning dairy equipment and machinery, was significantly greater in counties with more than 54 Grade A producers than counties having less than 54 producers.

2. The number of activities reported, hours spent and contacts agents made while conducting dairy outlook activities, was significantly greater in counties with more than 54 Grade A producers than counties with less than 54 Grade A producers.

3. The number of activities conducted and hours spent by agents on program evaluation activities was significantly greater in counties with more than 54 Grade A producers, but the number of contacts agents made did not significantly differ from counties with less than 54 Grade A producers.

4. The number of activities reported and hours spent on dairy 4-H youth activities was significantly greater in counties where the Grade A dairymen were producing more than 10029 pounds of milk per cow per year than counties where the dairymen were producing less than 10029 pounds of milk per cow per year, but there was no significant difference in the number of contacts agents made.

5. Counties where the Grade A dairymen were using more than 3.50 herd management practices per producer did not differ significantly from counties where the Grade A dairymen were using less than 3.50 herd management practices per producer as to the number of activities reported, hours spent and contacts agents made while conducting activities related to all dairy subjects.

6. The number of hours spent in all dairy counties was significantly greater in counties where the Grade A dairymen were using less than 6.16 breeding management practices per producer, but the number of activities reported and contacts agents made did not differ significantly from counties where the Grade A dairymen were using more than 6.16 breeding management practices per producer.

7. The number of dairy judging and evaluation activities reported, hours spent and contacts agents made was significantly greater in counties where the Grade A dairymen were using less than 6.16 breeding management practices per producer than counties where the Grade A dairymen were using more than 6.16 breeding management practices per producer.

8. The number of hours spent on related dairy subjects was negatively associated with percent of the Grade A producers allowed each cow at least 60 days following calving, prior to breeding, and raised at least 75 percent of herd replacements.

9. The number of contacts agents made while conducting dairy equipment and machinery activities was significantly greater in counties where the Grade A dairymen were using less than 1.46 concentrate feeding practices per producer than counties where the Grade A dairymen were using more than 1.46 concentrate feeding practices per producer, but there was no significant difference in the number of activities, reported and hours spent on these activities.

Implications and recommendations were also included in the study.

Recommended Citation

Bahari, Bin Yatim, "Relationship between selected situation variables of Grade A producers FY 1970 and the number of activities reported, hours spent and contacts extension agents made in 41 Tennessee major dairy counties during FY 1971-75. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1980.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/7765