Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1977

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Robert S. Dotson

Committee Members

Cecil E. Carter Jr, Frank F. Bell

Abstract

Information from the 1970 and 1975 Tennessee Corn Production Practice Checklist Surveys was studied together with data from the Tennessee Extension Management Information System, TEMIS (i.e., agent days planned and expended and clientele contacts made) for Fiscal Years 1972 and 1975 to determine whether there were possible implications for the survey and Extension's educational program.

The classification of corn survey practices and TEMIS primary subjects was assumed to be acceptable for this study. Data were con sidered for Extension districts and teaching methods.

From the 1975 Tennessee Corn Production Survey, it was found that the average production in bushels of corn per acre for 811 growers randomly surveyed was approximately 78 bushels of grain per acre for the state. Significantly higher percents of those producing yields of over 78 bushels per acre from the 1975 survey, on the average, used a larger number of the eight recommended practices.

Recommended practices under Primary TEMIS Subject One, "Corn Fertilization"; Subject Two, "Corn Pest"; Subject Three, "Corn Production"; and Subject Four, "Corn Management and Harvesting"; were all above the concern level of 60 percent. Of the four Subjects mentioned above. Subjects One and Two were the weaker of the four, based on 1970 data, suggesting the need to emphasize them more in Extension's corn educational program as priority areas.

There was a decrease in total agent days planned and expended on corn subjects between FY 1972 and FY 1975. An increase was noted in total contacts made by agents with corn producers between FY's 1972 and 1975.

Of Extension methods studied, increases in percents of agent time devoted to corn Extension work varied from district to district but were greatest for Individual Methods of instruction, decreases or no change occurring for Group and Mass Methods.

Though agents did not appear to have considered priority corn areas identified via the 1970 survey when planning for the period 1972-76, it was implied that Extension's educational efforts had paid off in increased production and practice use. It was obvious that further study would be necessary to show the true nature and extent of Extension's role in the indicated changes. Recommendations were included.

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