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The Farming Systems Research and Extension (FSR/E) approach to technology generation and promotion is creating interest in onfarm research. Described is a form of research design and analysis that explicitly incorporates variation in farmer management as well as in soils and climate, to help agronomists evaluate responses to treatments and partition farmers into recommendation domains. Mean treatment yields at each location are used as an “environmental index.” Individual treatment results are regressed on environmental index. A graphic distribution of confidence intervals within partitioned groups helps in selecting superior treatments. Data from unreplicated trials on 14 farms in two villages in Malawi were analyzed. The design was a 2 ✕ 2 factorial with two maize (Zea maysL.) cultivars and two fertilizer treatments (0 and 30 kg N/ha). Results show that in poorer maize environments, local flint cultivars were superior to an improved semi‐flint composite, with or without fertilizer. The composite yielded more than local material with or without fertilizer in better environments. In all cases there was a marked and significant response to fertilizer.

Potential economic benefit exists from the use of seasonal climate forecasts in agriculture. To assess potential end user attitudes toward and interests in climate data, and to provide inputs from users to the development of decision support tools, we conducted a series of surveys. Survey results affected the design, development, and enhancement of AgClimate, a web-based decision support system for minimizing climate risks to agriculture. The overall process is an example of how decision makers can participate in the research process, thereby improving the value and relevance of research products such as decision support systems.

Evidence of increasing nitrogen levels in the Suwannee River Basin in North Florida demands a collaborative effort to find creative ways to reduce N pollution. This study explores the perspectives, perceptions, and attitudes of dairy farmers regarding adoption of climate forecasts as a potential way to mitigate the problem. These farmers are heavily scrutinized because of their nitrogen emissions. By contrasting scientists' pre-conceived attitudes about the usefulness of ENSObased forecasts with dairy farmers' perceptions, gathered in a participatory and consensual manner, valuable lessons were learned. A deeper understanding of the day to day realities of dairy farming systems help researchers pinpoint management adaptations that are not only useful, but feasible, in light of improved seasonal climate forecasts. Furthermore, dairy farmers' perceptions regarding the use of seasonal climate information to mitigate the nitrate problem are critical for designing future dairy systems.

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Agricultural extension is evolving worldwide, and there is much emphasis today on community-based mechanisms of dissemination in order to bring sustainable change. The goal of this study was to examine the factors that make farmer groups successful in dissemination of information and technologies. A mixedmethods, multiple-stage approach was used to obtain data, using participant observation, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews, social mapping, and structured questionnaires. Dairy-goat farmer groups (n = 46) and individual farmers (n = 88) were interviewed. Factors that were associated with group success in dissemination included member participation, degree of jealousy within the group, homogeneity of members, group capacity, number of linkages and type of group (project-supported versus nonsupported). Some interventions that may increase the success of groups in dissemination include capacitybuilding, increasing linkages with other extension stakeholders, providing an enabling environment for groups to form, using established groups (as compared to forming new groups), and encouraging groups to form around common interests rather than for other reasons.