Wheat Initiative’s Agronomy Expert Working Group Found Farmers Are Looking for Credible Sources of Extension Information
Grower survey will help shape the future of wheat extension tools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2020. The Wheat Initiative’s Agronomy Expert Working Group (EWG) is trying to better understand how knowledge mobilization and technology transfer tools can be adapted to meet regional needs in a digital world.
Under the leadership of wheat agronomists from the USA, Canada and Australia, the team conducted a survey to determine the most trusted sources of agronomic information and how growers like to receive extension information.
The Agronomy Expert Working Group received 208 survey responses from growers in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Growers indicated that their most trusted sources of wheat agronomic information comes from Government/University Extension Staff and On-Farm Testing of Agronomic Practices Conducted on Farm. Crop walks and fact sheets were the top two extension methods preferred by growers.
Social Media, Agribusiness Companies, Private Retailers, and Farm Press were identified as the least trusted information sources. The survey clearly indicated there is a need for credible wheat agronomic extension information tools based on the following findings:
85% of survey respondents think incorrect wheat agronomic information is sometimes or often circulated to growers.
87% of survey respondents sometimes or often struggle to determine credible vs. non-credible agronomic information.
70% of survey respondents indicated information branded with the Wheat Initiative Logo would be helpful in identifying credible agronomic information.
72% of growers would actively seek out information on a Wheat Initiative Agronomic Expert Working Group Website.
A link to the full survey results can be found at: https://www.wheatinitiative.org/wheat-agronomy
As a next step, the Wheat Initiative’s Agronomy Expert Working Group is trying to recruit new members, particularly Government/University Extension staff to help prepare credible fact-sheets regarding wheat agronomic management. The EWG is also looking for increased agronomist participation from the EU, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Created in 2011 following endorsement from the G20 Agriculture Ministries, the Wheat Initiative provides a framework to establish strategic research and organisation priorities for wheat research at the international level in both developed and developing countries. The Wheat Initiative actions will lead to the creation of improved wheat varieties and to the dissemination of better agronomic practices worldwide. The combination of new varieties and agronomic practices will in turn allow farmers to improve and stabilise wheat yields in diverse production environments.
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Please note that the full press release can be accessed here. If you would like more information concerning this topic, please contact Sheri Strydhorst, Wheat Initiative – Agronomy EWG team member via email at sheri.strydhorst@gov.ab.ca.
Contact: Whitney Buchanan, Wheat Initiative Communications Manager
Phone: +49 (0)30 83042601
Email: wheat.initiative@julius-kuehn.de