This is an edited, multi-authored volume reporting the results of a decade-long interdisciplinary research project (1990-1999), the Research Program on Sustainability in Agriculture (REPOSA). The project was undertaken by the Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU), based in the Netherlands, and conducted in Costa Rica with two resident partner agencies, the Tropical Agricultural Research and ...

1 Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 5230 Wapato, WA, USA 2 Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA 3 Food and Environmental Quality Laboratory, Washington State University, Richland, WA, USA 4 Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA 5 Wes...

This article presents a strategy for integrating community service learning with community development. It builds upon two methods in rural development: needs assessment and incorporating public schools in the development process. The strategy provides a way to have a valid needs assessment using survey research and at the same time keep costs low and involvement of local people high. It also p...

A set of instructional materials on Total Quality Management livestockpractices was evaluated by preposttest measures of attitudes. The posttest was administered one year after the pretest, and students were paired on three measures, gender, grade in school, and whether or not they raised livestock. Contrary to researchers ; expectations, attitudes after use of the materials tended to be lower ...

Historically, the economic cycles in Brazil were, in many ways, taking advantage of the existing abundant natural resources. Vast territory, tropical climate, sunshine, and a relatively good amount of rainfall also contributed for the existence of a complex cosystem indicating an important agricultural potential. First, the use of Brazil trees for dying purposes, then sugarcane plantations alon...

This was a descriptive study to assess inservice education needs of entry-phase agriculture teachers in Texas. The purpose was to compare the ranking of inservice needs as determined by direct assessment to a ranking based on a mean weighted discrepancy score (MWDS), i.e., the Borich model. Via a mail questionnaire, teachers “graded” their performance for I63 competencies and their need for ins...

Highly motivated volunteers can greatly extend organizational andprogrammatic outreach to involve audiences which may otherwise be unserved. Determining what motivates individuals to volunteer is a key component of volunteer administration. The purpose of this study was to identify the motivators of adult volunteer 4-H Leaders and to determine if positive and negative motivations were similar f...

1 The State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. of China. 2 College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. of China. 3 State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, P. R. of ...

As the variety and sophistication of educational technologies continues to grow, the need to know more about the incentives and obstacles to technology adoption becomes more important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of an interactive communications network (ICN) for agricultural education at the secondary level. The ICN is a state-wide two-way full-motion fiber opti...

The demandfor distance education (DE) has continued to increase. Recent technology advances allow more flexibility in the methods of delivering this education. These advances have created a challenge for most universities and educators to again reevaluate their role in DE. Web-based courses andprograms are one exciting avenue that needs to be researched and evaluated. Faculty will play an impor...