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RESEr RESULTS SINCE 1981 AND EXPE= AC= ANCY
Enter-ri-se Records: simplified record books were made
available the first year, and have since been modified. After 3 years, the team is organizing record management education sessions in the counties under the direction of Dr. Swisher. Pressures to provide farm records by credit agencies should enhance clientele interest in learning to use these- record books. Families with members in F ture Farmers of America and vocational agriculture are more likely to use records or be amenable to. learning about them than are older farm families, but perhaps with expande-i educational programs, acceptance will increase.
Dr. Swisher is coordinating her educational efforts with
farm wanen in the region, many of whom do the record-keeping for the farm and household.
Subsoilino: a simple, effective subsoiler was made the first year, and since modified. It is undergoing further evaluation by an agricultural engineer. The subsoiler has great potential for use in planting summer grains. Su-**ssful demonstration of its utility on corn trials should enhance clientele interest in it. Those with cropping systems and mchanical ability capable of constructing one are most likely to adopt it.
New Forage and Grain Croos: trials in the region quickly determined major biological problems with each of the new alternatives. Basic research has been initiated on the more promising alternatives, namely, alyceclover, sorghum and pigeon pea.
Tropical Corn: successful efforts in the Hastings, Fla. area growing tropical corn prompted the FSR/E team to initiate its research on tropical corn in the Suwannee Columbia County area. The farmer interest and suggestions that resulted from the first year of station and farm trials with tropical corn led to an amplified program in 1984, including cultivar comparison, planting date, insect, subsoiling and fertility studies. Experimental sites which include farms as well as the station provide for rapid evaluation of the corn under diverse environments. Appropriate managerial practices for tropical corn should be confirmed by 1986. Because of its resistance to weevil damage, acceptability should be high among those who raise traditional corn and particularly those who store it on farm.