Structural elements of rural extension organizations in 20 developing nations were analyzed in this study. Countries were chosen from 25 national "case studies" made by foreign nationals enrolled at a Cornell University extension education seminar. Types of information included official agency titles, brief historical sketches, program objectives, organizational structure, financial support, personnel training, teaching and communication methods for reaching clientele, sources of supplies and services, major problems limiting progress, and key reasons for these problems. Tmong the findings and conclusions were: (1) 13 countries reported an officially organized national extension service; (2) problems included inadequately trained staff, poor supervision, poor recruitment practices, political interference, lack of research, low budgets, too few specialists, and staff members' lack of understanding of their roles; (3) 15 countries had a national extension charged with primary duties to prepare budget proposals and approve local programs; (4) essential organizational elements require some measure of freedom of operation since they are vital to program development and problem solving. (author/ly)