Impact of Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics On Advisors Recommendations and Producer Practices.

Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic field days (CMDC) have been conducted annually at the Agricultural Research and Development Center of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Adoption resulting from CMDC was evaluated using an on-line survey of attendees during the previous five years. Respondent characteristics were found to vary independently and were generally not related to adoption resulting from CMDC. Adoption resulting from CMDC increased, however, with more frequent attendance at CMDC. Respondents reported significant gains in skills because of CMDC but the gains were similar across skill areas. Respondents credited CMDC with significant adoption of most practices considered in the survey. Adoption was affected by characteristics of the practice including compatibility with the cropping system, relative advantage, complexity, and trialability. Observability and frequency of occurrence of crop production problems were related to diagnostic skill. Impact of CMDC on diagnostic skill was less if respondents were already skilled before attending CMDC. The value of CMDC impact on production may exceed $76 000 000 yr^-1, equivalent to 1.2% of the value of Nebraska’s corn and soybean production with grain prices of $150 Mg^-1 and $300 Mg^-1, respectively. Hands-on in-field and classroom exercises and talking to agricultural professionals were determined to be the most effective learning methods while listening to the radio or television were least effective. Responses indicated satisfaction with the current field day format but bringing in outside resource people was often suggested.