Evidence Based Extension:Field Trials with Farmers

Lectured by Koon-Hui WangPEPS 691

Extension and Adoption

Motives of Field Trials with Farmers

• Farmers facing an epidemic disease or pest problem

• Researchers want to promote a new technique/concept/product

• Driving force from grant funding agencies• Industry and local distributors want to examine a

new product• Farmers are curious about a new technique• Farmers sign up for government subsidized

programs (NRCS EQIP)• Farmers need to look for alternatives to current

practices

• Results are reflecting virtual scenario• Farmers have first hand

information/experience about the trial.• Farmers provide pertinent inputs that might

increase adoption rate.• Farmers can be resourceful

Advantages of Conducting Field Trials with Farmers

• Farmers have to comply with their farming practice

• Farmers need to meet their production standard (i.e. some time untreated control is not possible)

• Miscommunication could lead to failure of trial

• Farmers don’t see microscopic organisms, thus, does not believe the potential

• Some time farmers are not so resourceful

Disadvantages of Conducting Field Trials with Farmers

How to achieve productive field trials with farmers?

• Understand what the farmer needs?• Get farmers to involve.• Share your results with farmers.• Write your reports in a layman term.• Some farmers don’t check e-mail, need

to call or meet them in person.• Some farmers are too busy but can be

reached through electronic communication

Case 1: Pineapple plantation in Hawaii

What are some incentives for pineapple farmers to switch away from this “silver bullet” pest management approach?A. environmental

stewardshipB. increasing pesticide

costC. loosing registration of

pesticidesD. Unavailable of

pesticides

Reniform nematodes

Solarization

Cover the soil with clear plastic (1 mil) for 4-6 weeks, heat up the top soil layer to 35-60°C (95-140 ° F).

Farmers need an alternative in case Telone is not available.

Results: Replace Solarization with Telone

Solarization for 2 months

Plant pineapple

Solarization

Control

Pineapple canopy at 6 months after planting

Get farmers involve

Case 2: Promote the planting of insectary plants

Farmers need to • Know there are

natural enemies• Willing to plant

non-cash crop (insectary plants)

• Select strategies based on target pests

• Wait for natural enemies to come

Wasp nesting block

Buckwheat

Sunn hemp

Reduced Risk Pest Management Strategies Not my silver bullet

Case 2: Promote the planting of insectary plants in Aquaponic System

• Conduct preliminary study at the experiment station.

• Present at the Aquaponicsin Hawaii Conference.

• Invite farmers to attend field day events at the experiment station.

• Involve farmers in proposal writing by submitting letters of support.

Case 2: Promote the planting of insectary plants in Aquaponic System

• Distribute extension publications/posters during field day events

• Lets farmers have some hands on experience during field day

• Farmers will start inviting you to do experiments in their farms.

Case 2: Promote the planting of insectary plants in Aquaponic System

Follow up:• Farmer says: I don’t see the

beneficial insects.• Farmers ask: do I have tenant

in my insect condominium?

Farmers set up insectary plants in their farm

Mummified aphids

Mud wasps occupied

some holes

I can’t see the beneficial insects.

How to achieve productive field trials with farmers? (continue)

• Conduct farmers survey during field day event.• Write grant funding proposal with farmers

o Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (WSARE) –

• Professional Development Program (PDP)Train ag professionals to help spread knowledge about agconcepts and practices.

• Farmer/Rancher GrantsConducted by ag. Producers with guidance from a technical advisor; more funding for a group of producers.

• Professional + Producer GrantsCooperative Extension educator or Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) professional coordinates the project.

o Government subsidized program – NRCS EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) – help farmers meet government environmental regulations.

Encourage Collaborative Farmers talk to other farmers

A picture says a thousand wordsA field trial says a million words