1. An Assessment of Farm Regulation Inquiries
to County Agricultural Agents in New Jersey
B. Schilling 1, D. Kluchinski 2 and L. Marxen 3
1Assistant Extension Specialist in Agricultural Policy, 2 County Agricultural and
Resource Management Agent and Corresponding Author, and 3Research Analyst
ABSTRACT RESULTS
A survey of Rutgers NJAES Cooperative ● Respondents were asked to indicate the degree of frequency of receiving inquiries from farmers,
Extension’s agricultural field faculty and potential farmers, non-farmers, and governmental officials on 17 farm regulatory topics1. The
staff was conducted in 2011. One top 5 topics for each clientele audience, based on mean scale values, are listed in Table 1.
objective was to determine the most
common inquiries from various audiences
on farm regulatory issues. Seventeen Table 1. Ranking of Top Five Farm Regulation Topic Inquiries by Various Audiences
regulatory categories were presented and Ranked by Mean Scale Value
four audiences identified (farmers,
Scale 1-5: 1=Never, 2=Rarely, 3=Somewhat Often, 4=Often, 5=Very Often
potential farmers, non-farmers, and
government officials). The 5 top-ranked
farm regulatory topics were identified for Farmers Potential Farmers Non-Farmers Government
each audience. Farmers and potential Rank 1 Mean Mean Mean Mean
Topic 2 Topic Topic Topic
farmers most frequently seek information (SD) (SD) (SD) (SD)
on regulations that impact their business
3.74 2.68 2.94 2.50
management while non-farmers and 1 Pesticides Pesticides Pesticides Right to Farm
(1.29) (1.22) (1.15) (1.29)
governmental officials often inquire about
environmental regulations. Conservation /
3.18 Organic 2.68 Organic 2.53 2.26
2 Marketing Resource
(1.49) Production (1.39) Production (1.31) (1.05)
Management
Conservation / Land
3.03 2.59 2.50 2.21
3 Farm Vehicles Marketing Resource Preservation/
OBJECTIVES (1.49) (1.56)
Management
(0.99)
Land Use
(1.12)
Conservation /
● Determine the trend of inquiries by 4 Resource
2.94
(1.20)
Taxes
2.50
(1.31)
Right to Farm
2.41
(1.16)
Pesticides
2.09
(0.83)
various clientele groups on specific Management
farming related regulatory topics to
2.91 2.32 2.26 Waste 2.06
develop informational resources to 5 Right to Farm Farm Labor Biosecurity
(1.36) (1.09) (1.38) Management (1.28)
meet these needs.
1
Regulatory topics included pesticides, marketing, farm vehicles, farm conservation and resource management, right to farm,
biosecurity, water allocation, farm labor, land preservation and land use, taxes, organic production, financial management, waste
management, food preparation for retail sale, building construction codes and standards, energy, and livestock and poultry.
2
Standard Deviations (SD) appear in parenthesis below means.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
● A survey of Rutgers NJAES Cooperative DISCUSSION and CONCLUSIONS
Extension’s agricultural and resource
management field faculty and staff was
conducted in March-April 2011.
● Pesticide regulations was the most frequent inquiry from all audiences except government.
● The on-line survey comprised of 4
● Potential farmers and non-farmers have greater interest in organic production regulations.
questions on 17 farm regulatory topics ● Farmers and potential farmers most frequently seek information on regulations that impact their
was administered via Qualtrics™; business management (pesticides, marketing) while non-farmers and governmental officials often
results of 1 question are reported. inquire about environmental regulations (right to farm, conservation, land preservation/use).
● Survey recipients, n=43; Completed ● These data provided the basis for prioritizing, gathering and developing informational resources
surveys, n= 35; Response rate = 81%. for improving and standardizing Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension’s responses to clientele.