Building Bridges: Improving Extension Support to Organic Growers in North Georgia

Abstract

Organic agriculture has the potential to improve the environmental performance of U.S. agriculture, supporting increasing food demand and diversification of food consumption while improving the quality of ecosystems. Organic growers are challenged by a lack of Cooperative Extension agent support as agents have not served organic growers to the same extent as conventional growers nationwide. Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory guided our phenomenological inquiry to explore (a) what agents experienced while supporting organic growers, and (b) how agents experienced providing support to organic growers in north Georgia. According to participants, the essence of the support offered to organic growers was an uneven bridge. Agents were willing to provide growers with the resources to support organic production; however, they lacked theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding organic agricultural production that would enable them to establish stronger relationships with growers. Findings from the study and the uneven bridge metaphor led to an original model to assist Extension agents in better serving the organic agricultural community.

Exploring grower strategies and needs for enhancing organic disease management of tomato late blight

“…Furthermore, the identification of other farmers as primary resources indicates that integrating growers as co-educators into organic programming can enhance the impact of these programs by building trust, relevance and credibility (Wyckhuys and Oõneil, 2007; Kuehne et al ., 2017; Bardenhagen et al ., 2020). Increasing these bidirectional modes of engagement between Extension agents and organic growers as co-educators and co-creators of knowledge has been identified as a method to not only improve Extension resources for organic production, but also positively influence the communication and adoption of effective preventive pest management strategies within organic systems (Sarker and Itohara, 2009; Bardenhagen et al ., 2020; Marabesi et al ., 2021). Thus, university Extension programs may be improved by developing research, workshops, conferences, and resources in close partnership with grower stakeholders (Table 5).…”

“…Many studies have found that growers emphasize learning from their own experiences and those of other farmers rather than Extension agents and scientific research, which are often viewed as grounded in conventional management approaches (Eckert and Bell, 2005; Agunga and Igodan, 2007; Middendorf, 2007; Parker and Lillard, 2013; Jabbour et al ., 2014; Crawford et al ., 2015; Marabesi et al ., 2021). Growers responding to our surveys also placed less emphasis on Extension resources as compared to other knowledge and training opportunities regarding the development of their disease management strategies.…”

“…Growers responding to our surveys also placed less emphasis on Extension resources as compared to other knowledge and training opportunities regarding the development of their disease management strategies. However, other studies have demonstrated that organic farmers have strong interests in Extension programs addressing the needs of organic farmers, if they align with their values and goals (Delate et al ., 2004; Bardenhagen et al ., 2020; Marabesi et al ., 2021). Organic-specific educational resources, like MOSES, workshops/field days/conferences and research that are specifically tailored to serve organic needs, will continue to rise in demand as the organic market expands.…”

“…Respondents also demonstrated a preference for learning opportunities which foster interactions with other growers and sharing of diverse experiences on working organic farms. Integrating more interactive methods into future research and outreach efforts can allow for greater collaboration and two-way learning, which are key factors for improving Extension support for organic growers (Marabesi and Kelsey, 2019; Marabesi et al ., 2021). In this study, the information gained through surveys and live polling helped to identify needs and preferences for the future generation of organic-relevant materials for specific pathosystems to further enhance education programming and resources for the organic community in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest.…”

“…A thorough body of literature underscores how the lack of understanding and recognition of these complexities have created an unstable bridge between the Extension and outreach offered by land grant universities and organic growers' needs (Beus and Dunlap, 1992; Agunga and Igodan, 2007; Middendorf, 2007; Sarker and Itohara, 2009; Crawford et al ., 2015; Marabesi and Kelsey, 2019; Marabesi et al ., 2021). Strategies that could result in more effective outreach programming regarding organic production practices include the identification of the intersection of stakeholder interests with practice outcomes (e.g.…”