Tuesday, 8 November 2005 - 9:30 AM
136-5

Interaction of University Extension Specialists and Seed Company Agronomists: Results of a Survey.

Paul Carter, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 7100 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA 50131-1150

Both public and private groups who work with agricultural growers understand that to be respected by growers and to influence their decisions it is critical to be a relevant source of information. It is important to understand the nature of the relationships of public and private knowledge-transfer groups and to develop ways that their activites can be complementary. A survey of representative U.S. university extension specialists and Field Sales Agronomists with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. in the Midwestern USA was conducted in May and June, 2004 to gain perspectives on their current and expected future interactions with one another. University extension specialists indicated that seed company agronomists are valued as colleagues for their close daily contact with growers, their field problem solving skills, and their role in multiplying access to groups not reached directly by extension. They urged seed company agronomists to give credit to university extension when their information is used. Seed company agronomists expressed that 40% to more than 70% of the information that they use for transfer to their clients is accessed from universities and most expect their use of university extension resources to stay the same or increase by 2010. These agronomists indicated that university extension specialists are a highly valued resource for joint training efforts with sales representatives. To stay relevant, they encouraged university extension specialists to spend more time with individual growers both to learn what motivates them and to understand the rapidly changing agricultural marketplace.

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