How can Extension educators better serve organic farmers?
By Vicki Morrone C.S. Mott Groupfor Sustainable Food Systems, Dept. of CARRS Michigan State University My goal since starting my new position to serve organic farmers at Michigan State University has been to identify how we as Extension educators and MSU specialists can better serve organic farmers. I am sure that many of you will admit you are no easy bunch to serve (organic farmers), with the multitude of methods and styles of application it is difficult to have the appropriate “bag of tools” for organic farmers. I am working with Dr. Jeff Grabill, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Professional Writing, to identify how Extension can best provide value to organic farmers in Michigan. We conducted several focus groups with organic farmers in Michigan and MSU Extension educators over the past year, supported by a USDA Sustainable Agriculture grant. The purpose of the focus groups was to gain some understanding of the relationship, perspective and ideas each group has regarding how org
