Farm Management Extension Programs and the Use of Microcomputers on Farms. Faculty Paper Series 85-3.

The Cooperative Extension Service faces the challenge of helping United States farmers and ranchers use microcomputers in managing their farms. Farm management extension education programs are delivered to farmers and ranchers through such activities as (1) local meetings and workshops organized by county agents and producer advisory groups, (2) regional meetings, (3) published information in the farm press or from the extension communication divisions, (4) radio and television, and (5) limited use of computer networks. A majority of the agricultural clientele for on-farm microcomputers have looked to the Cooperative Extension Service for guidance on software and hardware purchasing. Extension services provide this information through large regional meetings, smaller in-depth courses, and the development and distribution of software, particularly decision aid software or software to address specific problems. Part-time consultants in finance, computing, and other fields are used to help farmers gain more farm management skills using microcomputers. The future role of on-farm microcomputer extension programs will focus on user education and the use of electronic technology to access relevant information more effectively. The farm management extension specialist will play a major role in defining needs, designing systems, and providing educational support. Extension programs will focus on describing decision processes and information needs and communicating these to researchers and software developers. (KC)