Technical Update for Vocational Agriculture Teachers in Secondary Schools. Final Report.

A project provided ongoing opportunities for teachers in Iowa to upgrade their expertise in agribusiness management using new technology; production, processing, and marketing agricultural products; biotechnology in agriculture; and conservation of natural resources. The project also modeled effective teaching methods and strategies. Project activities included the following: (1) an inservice program on agricultural marketing and futures held at five locations, featuring a presentation, a teleconference, and distribution of new teaching materials; (2) a program on integrated pest management at a university in cooperation with the extension service; (3) computer seminars on the use of agricultural information and networking services in teaching financial management at five locations; (4) a 2-day fruit, vegetable, and sod program; and (5) individualized assistance provided by telephone and in person. A total of 254 persons attended the sessions. All programs were rated highly by participants. (The following materials that were developed and distributed are included in this project report: an exercise on using grain futures, a marketing plan simulation, a marketing quiz, sets of transparency masters on marketing and futures and on common Midwestern corn diseases, lesson plans and transparency masters for chemical application strategies and disease control, and lesson plans for cutworm scouting.) (KC)