iv
Perennial peanut work has centered on finding ways of
establishing the crop in the area's deep sands, where weeds are also prevalent. High costs of establishment may inhibit adoption. Intercropping work in established stands showed success with winter grains but not summer crops. Overseeding oats into coastal bermuda sod, looked promising in 1984. Further trials are planne.Two graduate studies now in progress should identify better ways of reaching the clientele. A newsletter for small scale producers is being produced and will be distributed at various sites to test its effectiveness as a media for information transfer. Slide-taoe modules are also being developed for the clientele. -Cattle management studies are being discussed. A prototype automatic 9ae opener is now being tested on farm controlling grazing. This innovation could play a key role in pasture grazing management.
During the period from FY 1984-1987, the IFAS Evaluation unit will conduct an evaluation of the FSR/E effort and the Florida A and M Oniversity 1890s project. This effort will provide good measurement data of FSR/E effectiveness in generating appropriate technology for a small farm clientele.
Sunort
The FSR/E team has cooperated with 20 research and 9
extension agents during 1983-84. An average of 6 students per year have been affiliated with the project conducting some phase of research.
The numbers of farmer contacts made by the team went from 66 in the original Sondeo to over 225 by spring, 1984. Approximately 60 different farms have cooperated in on-farm trials. The team has produced 30 papers or other publications on the project and research findings, with at least 8 more forthcoming in 1984.
Organization
The Florida team began as a core of 2 faculty (Hildebrand, French), 2 USDA appointees (wean, Clough) and 5 graduate students, supervised by the Deans for Extension, Research and Resident Instruction, and a Technical Advisory Committee of department deans and members of International Programs. Today, the project has a multicou &agent (Swisher), and is largely centered at the Live OakCArea) ResearchCenter, where much of the station research is conduced. Research station staff perform much of the work. This represents a movement towards
*regionalizing* FSR/E.
Extension agents play much greater roles in developing
FSR/E work plans and research designs than was true during the first two years. Annual reviews have been held since 1982 and during 1983, an external review was also conducted. The