Is the Texas Agricultural Extension Service succeeding at educating and satisfying Texas agricultural producers?

Abstract

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service Rangeland Ecology and Management Program Unit (TAEX-RLEM) initiated the Rangeland Resource Survey in 1997 to evaluate the success of the Unit in educating and satisfying Texas agricultural operators. The survey addressed demographics, knowledge of rangeland, and satisfaction with TAEX. Recipients included agricultural landowners and current TAEX clientele, with the null hypothesis that all operators had the same knowledge of rangeland and level of satisfaction with TAEX. The survey was mailed to 3200 Texas landowner and TAEX clientele across the state (excluding the Piney Woods) and most likely reflected the Texas agricultural operator population; 1058 surveys (33%) were returned usable for analysis. The major findings of this analysis were as follows: Extension clientele and participants scored higher on the knowledge section of the survey including brush management, grazing management, and general rangeland questions and utilized more management practices compared to landowners and non- participants, respectively. All questions reflected specific teaching points of TAEX- RLEM. Participants who operated ranches, owned larger acreage, attended programs more than twice in 12 months, and utilized TAEX for brush and/or grazing management information scored higher on brush, grazing, and general rangeland questions compared to participants who operated other operations, owned smaller acreage, attended two or less programs, or did not utilize TAEX for brush/grazing management information. All respondent categories indicated that they relied on TAEX for agricultural information more than any other agency. Responses indicated that 88.7% of landowners will use TAEX in the future, along with 91.8% of clientele and 99.1% of participants. Respondent categories indicated a range of 93.4% (landowners) to 98.8% (participants) would recommend TAEX to others. In conclusion, TAEX is the most effective and beneficial source of rangeland information for Texas operators. TAEX should expand rangeland educational programming and accessibility to meet the needs of increasing numbers and diversity of Texas agricultural operators in the future. This study shows that TAEX and the RLEM Program Unit are succeeding at educating Texas agricultural producers, non-participants would benefit from participating in educational programs, and current clientele and participants are satisfied TAEX customers.