overview
An important part of the USDA agricultural research and education
system is Extension activities that deliver research findings to
farmers. One indicator of the level of Extension activities is the
allocation of personnel. This data product provides two datasets
reflecting Extension staffing:
- Total Extension staffing
- Extension staffing by four major program
areas.
Total Extension staffing data are presented in terms of full-time
equivalent staff (FTEs) for the 48 contiguous U.S. States and for
4 major regions for the 1977-97 time period. Program area allocations
are only available for 1977-92.
feature
"Regional Trends in Extension Resources"This paper, presented
at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings in Orlando,
FL, in February 2002, describes trends in staffing derived from
these data. The paper is available from Mary
Ahearn, 202-694-5583.
data sources
Unlike the allocation of research expenditures in the USDA
agricultural research system, which is captured in the Current Research
Information System (CRIS), no easily accessible data exist for Extension
staffing. This is likely due to the greater burden in allocating
the time of Extension experts, who are more likely to work on multiple
issues on a daily basis, compared with researchers. Historical trend
information on Extension staffing is piecemeal, and must be assembled
from a variety of published and administrative documents.
The major data sources used in compiling this dataset were:
- National Summary of Level of Efforts in the Cooperative Extension
System for FY 1984-87 with Trend Data for 1974-87. Prepared
by Helen Young, Program Analyst, Program Development Evaluation,
Extension Service, USDA, August 1988.
- Plan of Work reports from Extension Service files, State Extension
Information Management System (SEIMS). Bart Hewitt, Program Analyst,
Partnerships, provided 1992-93 data.
- USDA-CSREES, Funds Management Branch. Annual report, Table 3,
Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001.
media and naming convention
The two table files in the Extension staffing database are downloadable
in both .wk1 and .xls spreadsheet format.
File names are listed and described below.
Labels describing program areas have changed over time, but Extension
program areas can generally be classified into four major program
areas.
Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR)These are
grouped into a single category because of the overlap between the
two areas. For example, adoption of resource conserving farm production
practices could be classified in either category. The agriculture
area includes crop production and management, livestock production
and management, farm business management, and agricultural marketing.
Extension information and activities in the natural resource area
are likely to have a more public good nature, benefiting society
beyond individual producers. This is especially true for agricultural
practices that are viewed as sustainable and for which there is
little profit motive for the private farm operator.
Community Resource Development (CRD)These activities
are important both in communities with economies dependent on agricultural
production and those with nonagricultural economies. Social scientists,
such as economists and sociologists, dominate Extension activities
in community development.
4-H & Youth Development Programs (4H)Traditional 4-H
programs for youth are focused on agricultural production activities.
However, the overarching goal of all youth programs, both agricultural
and nonagricultural, is youth development.
Home Economics and Human Nutrition (HEHN)These programs
are targeted to issues that affect all populations, and rely significantly
on the expertise of consumer economists and nutritionists. Also
included are programs associated with food safety.
regional definitions
North Central |
ND, SD, NE, KS, MO, IA, MN, WI, IL, MI, IN, KY, OH |
Northeastern |
ME, VT, NH, RI, CT, NJ, DE, MD, PA, WV, NY, MA |
South |
FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, TN, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, TX |
West |
WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, UT, AZ, MT, WY, CO, NM |
data files
Extension staffing, by State and region
Total FTE, 1977-97: .xls format
.wk1
format
Program area, 1977-92: .xls
format .wk1
format
updates
No update is planned for these data.
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