EVALUATION OF THE FARM MANAGEMENT PHASE OF THE FARM AND HOME MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE. EXTENSION STUDY, NUMBER 1.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS 1956-60 LONGITUDINAL STUDY WAS TO COMPARE CHANGES IN FARM PRACTICES AND RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND IN INCOME AND RELATED BUSINESS FACTORS AMONG 87 PARTICIPANTS (DAIRYMEN) IN THE FARM MANAGEMENT PHASE OF THE NEW YORK STATE FARM AHD HOME MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WITH THOSE OF A CONTROL GROUP OF 87 WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE. IN 1956, THE PARTICIPANTS HAD AN AVERAGE AGE OF 43.6 YEARS, WITH GENERALLY A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND A HIGH LEVEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPATION. OF THE 11 VARIABLES ON WHICH BOTH GROUPS HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN MATCHED, ONLY EDUCATION, ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPATION, AND PERCENT SCORES ON AGRONOMY PRACTICES FOR HAY AND PASTURE DIFFERENTIATED SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN THEM. OF THE 25 ITEMS UNDER CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE, THE PARTICIPANTS SIGNIFICANTLY SURPASSED THE CONTROLS ONLY ON EFFICIENT USE OF LABOR, USE OF INVENTORY INCREASE IN FIGURING LABOR INCOME, SIZE OF OPERATION, AND ACTUAL EFFICIENT USE OF LABOR AND CAPITAL. CHANGE ADVANTAGES OF PARTICIPANTS ON BUSINESS FACTORS AFFECTING LABOR INCOME RESULTED IN A AVERAGE INCOME GAIN SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN THAT OF NONPARTICIPANTS. (SEVERAL IMPLICATIONS FAVORABLE TO THE FARM MANAGEMENT PHASE OF THE PROGRAM WERE NOTED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE 13 TABLES, A GLOSSARY, APPENDIXES, AND A DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, SUBJECT MATTER EMPHASIS, AND METHODS.) (LY)