coperative extension system of USA

2. What is agriculture extension?
 Agricultural extension is the application of applied
scientific research and acquired new knowledge to
agricultural practices through different levels of farmer
education.
 Agricultural extension educational programs around the
world have developmental roots, utilizing applied research
knowledge to help farmers deal with identified problems
focusing primarily on production practice.
 Extension education enables farmers to analyze modern
problems in a more global context, and to evaluate the
consequences before making decisions.
 The main focus of extension work is on the adoption of
fixed, generalizable research-based practices and decisions
such as technology adoption and adjustments to deal with
common farming problems.

3. Extension System of USA
 Extension system of USA is based on the needs of farmers
as a two way learning model and research under action
where all the program evaluation is focused mainly on
demonstrating public values which is funded through
federal, state, and local (usually county) appropriations, as
well as competitive grants and other sources which is called
cooperative extension system.
 The Cooperative Extension System is a non-formal
educational program implemented in the United States
with the aim to help people use research-based knowledge
to improve their lives.
 The service is provided by the state's designated land-grant
universities in partnership with federal, state, and local
governments(Gould, Steele, & Woodrum, 2014).

4. What is Cooperative extension
service?
 Non-Formal Education
 Part of National Education Effort
 Administered by Land Grant University
System
 Uniquely funded from Federal , State and
Local government

6. Purpose of Cooperative
Extension Service
 The major purpose of the service primarily was to set up rural
people to obtain the information needed and to develop the
skills require to solve many of their problems in farming, home
making and community development.
 The original form of the organization was developed to serve
agriculture interests but later home economics, youth work,
public affairs, rural-area development.
 To solve the problems centered around increasing efficiency
in producing, marketing and utilizing crops and livestock,
conserving natural resources, obtain credit, improving
transportation, preserving food for family use and developing
interests groups.

7.  Historically, Extension has concentrated on three
programmatic foci: agriculture, home economics, and 4-
H with rural audiences.
 Although production agriculture remains an important
component, programs now include a focus on practices
that protect the environment.
 Today, diverse educational programs are offered for
families and communities on topics such as nutrition and
food safety, financial management, parenting, community
and economic development, and water quality.

8. HISTORY
 Cooperative Extension derives its name from a
combination of federal, state and local funds to ensure
that all people have access to their state university.
 Under the Cooperative Extension System, extension
has helped improve agricultural productivity growth,
strengthen the rural economy, educate youth, promote
better human health, sustain the environment, and
much more(True, 1928).

9. Morrill Act (1862 & 1890):
•President Abraham Lincoln signed the Land Grant (Morrill)
Act into law in 1862.
•Morrill Act (1862) –federal grants were given to establish and
maintain one institution in each state to teach agriculture,
mechanic arts, and military tactics.
•2nd Morrill Act (1890) –increased federal support and included
grants for land-grant colleges for African Americans.
•Prior to the Morrill Act of 1862, higher education was widely
unavailable to many agricultural or industrial workers.
•The Morrill Act was intended to provide a broad segment of
the population with a practical education that had direct
relevance to their daily lives.

10. The Hatch Act (1887):
Created the agricultural experiment station program in
connection with the Land-Grant institutions.
 Federal grant funds were made available to states to each
state to establish the agricultural experiment stations.
This legislation helps to educate producers about growing
conditions, which makes American agriculture more
productive. Research findings from experiment station
systems across the country result in improved farming
methods.
The Hatch Act serves as a bridge between the Morrill Act, signed
by President Lincoln in 1862, and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914.

11. FARM DEMONSTRATION WORK (1903)
 Farm demonstration work began in 1903 when Dr.
Seaman appointed 22 men in southern states to
demonstrate the best methods of growing cotton under
boll-weevil conditions.
 In the view of many, a farm demonstration at the Walter
.G Porter Farm, in Texas set up by the Department of
Agriculture, was the first in a series of steps that
eventually led to passage of the legislation that formalize
Cooperative Extension work.

12. Smith-Lever Act (1914):
In 1914 the Smith Lever Act established the
national cooperative extension system.
Established Extension; providing federal support
for land-grant institutions to offer educational
programs that enhanced the application of useful
and practical information beyond their campuses.
Legislation in the various States has enabled local
governments or organized groups in the Nation's
counties to become a third legal partner in this
educational endeavor.

14. Functions of Cooperative
Extension System
 Extension of the university research and findings to
the public.
 To establish partnership with communities to deliver
education and technologies that enrich the lives, land
and economy of the people.
 To inspire people as individuals, families and
communities, to work together to identify their own
problems, to help them determine their objectives and
to and supply technical help to them as needed to
meet their objectives
 To demonstrate or put into practice knowledge gained
through different prior agricultural research

15. 4-H Club
 This is an organization of boys & girls from 10 to 20
years of age with a definite program of farm & home
development & personal & social development. It is a
part of national agricultural extension system.
 It has been given the name 4-H club because the club
members are expected to have four Hs; • HEAD,
HEART, HANDS, HEALTH.

16. Organizational Structure
 The cooperative extension service or organization
operates at three levels: The national, the state and the
county.
 The Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES) is an agency within the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), part of the
executive branch of the federal government.
 In 2009, CSREES was reorganized into the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
 At state level Land Grant Universities are run.
 At local level County extension office are operated.

18. Functions at various level
 1. The federal director of extension : It represents the secretary
of agriculture in the states ,the counties and the colleges. The
federal directorate develops different policies affecting
agriculture.
 2. The state extension director :The state extension director is
responsible for the administration and execution of all duties
and obligations agreed by the land grant colleges and the
United States department of agriculture .He/she examines all
projects and plans, looks after all publications and acts as a
linkage between the state and the US department of agriculture.
 3. The supervisors under the state directorate :The supervisor’s
main role is to interpret objectives, methods, and procedures to
the county personnel and often to the people and brings back
information about problems, needs, and activities of the agents
and the people.

19.  4.The state subject matter specialist They represent a
subject matter department of the United States
department of agriculture, the research station and the
land grant universities.
 5. The county agent: They are generally assisted by a home
agent, an associate agent and an assistant agent and
directly interact with the farmers and rural people. They
reach farmers through organized groups and club.
 6.County extension council: an elected body composed of
one man and one women from each township in the
county. It is responsible for arranging local financing and
for assisting in planning, executing and supervising county
extension work.

20. Positive Aspects
 Internationalized :Extension service of the US is still the only
system in which the main extension function remains within
the university, some developing countries, India, have
integrated educational institutions into practical extension
work.
 Diversified teaching and learning environment
 Direct assessment of clients needs,
 User oriented research
 Quality training for State personnel and a strong linkage
between academic education and field practice.

21. Changing patterns in extension
services
The US Cooperative extension system has been shifted over
years and have varied through time and among states and
regions as well as extension funding has relied more heavily
on sources within the states.
 Four key factors contribute to this change:
1) rapid economic growth allows consumers to shift from
grains and starchy staples to higher value foods;
2) urbanization accelerate the shift by changing lifestyles,
increasing exposure to media, and availability of high value
foods;
3) more liberal trade policies create new export and import
opportunities;
4) less restrictions on foreign direct investment change food
marketing channels, particularly food processing and retail
distribution

22. CONCLUSION
 Cooperative Extension System addresses public
needs through community-based educational
program.
 The successful achievement of the cooperative
extension service in the united stated is attributed to
its willingness and ability to change as the needs and
interests of the people .
 The goals and objective of the entire system are relaxed
for every decade and have shifted in a dramatic way.
 Extension has helped improve agricultural
productivity growth, strengthen the rural economy,
educate youth, promote better human health, sustain
the environment, and much more through cooperative
extension system in USA.