A fax satellite center is used in North Carolina to deliver extension information to farmers. The system is used to respond to requests and to disseminate information on a timely basis. (JOW)

Trends in farming and farm household incomes in Ireland are presented in the context of global competitiveness. Addresses the issue of extension's dilemma in providing fee-based service while relying on public monies. (SK)

A communication model consisting of input from target audience, program delivery, and outcomes (receivers' perception of message) was applied to an osteoporosis-prevention program for working mothers ages 21 to 45. Due to poor completion rate on evaluation instruments and failure of participants to learn key concepts, the model was used to improve…

Community-based agencies (extension, women's association, public health department) initiated a health promotion project using adult learning approaches (experiential learning, storytelling, and networking) to enable participants to examine their experiences of health and factors affecting health in their communities. Assessment tools were…

Project Healthy Bones is a 24-week exercise and education program for older women and men at risk for or who have osteoporosis. The exercise component is designed to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. The education curriculum stresses the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, drug therapy, and lifestyle factors. (SK)

A quality assurance program was designed to teach youth about safe and wholesome food production, animal management techniques, and ethical decision making related to food animal production. Participants gained skills in animal management techniques and their opinions about consumer expectations were positively influenced. The program successfully…

Responses from 61 of 67 Ohio State University extension agents who left between 1990-94 showed they were primarily female (66%), white (90%), and untenured (98%). They were most likely to leave due to other priorities, insufficient pay, family obligations, too many work responsibilities, or the opportunity to make more money elsewhere. (SK)

In Zimbabwe, agricultural extension agents took a participatory approach involving farmers in experimentation and research. The attitude changes required for participatory approaches were highly dependent upon personalities and required major changes in planning, training, monitoring, and evaluating. (SK)

Uses of the agricultural knowledge systems concept of information flow are described in Holland, Bhutan, Switzerland, and India. Application of the model for gaining an overview of institutions must be combined with a functional approach for designing appropriate extension programs. (SK)

Protas and de Andrade state that rural extension efforts in developing nations should not expect the participation of "progressive" farmers to lead to larger participation of other farmers in adopting innovations. Van den Bar offers comments on the article. (SK)

Most students in off-campus agriculture programs (n=173) and faculty (n=262) rated the overall quality of on- and off-campus programs positively; they perceived off-campus courses as lower in innate excellence. A focus on manufacturing-based quality was recommended to improve the perception of off-campus courses. (SK)

This rejoinder to the response to an article on the role of university extension takes issue with Lauzon's criticism of the public service mission of extension and the growing pressure for cost recovery justification of extension units. (SK)

Interviews with 12 employers participating in the Virginia Initiative for Employment, Not Work identified factors affecting welfare recipients' work force entry: skills, work experience, education/training, support system, childcare, transportation, and clothing. They are wiling to hire if supported by extension, social services, and government…

To help build the capacity to serve culturally diverse communities, Pennsylvania extension professionals developed Diverse Issues, a quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is mailed to Extension professionals across the state. Responses from 136 extension personnel indicated that the newsletter has increased the knowledge, awareness, and…

Structural, financial, and decentralization strategies and the shift to market approaches are reforming agricultural extension. Forces driving the change are sociopolitical, economic, institutional, and programmatic. (SK)