Practices Adopted, Interests, and Information Sources of Farmers and Their Wives in Tioga County. Extension Studies No. 37.

By random selection, 74 farm families in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, were interviewed to determine the use of recommended practices, interests of the farmers and their wives, and sources of information. Dairy farming was the major enterprise for 3/4 of the farmers. No Extension recommendations were used by 15% but 20% used seven or more of the nine recommendations. Farmers were most interested in learning about use of fertilizer, dairy herd management, milk marketing, and soil conservation; newsletters, visits from the county agent, weekly newspapers, and farm magazines were the most popular sources of information. High participation in Extension programs correlated with a larger herd, a larger farm, an older farmer, better farm business records, and a wife who participated. Farmers' wives were most interested in interior decorating and educational opportunities and careers for children. Wives preferred a newsletter and newspapers for information and were almost all very low Extension participators. Work off the farm occupied 24% of the farmers and 35% of the wives. (jf)