What Have We Learned from Teaching Computer Applications to Farmers?

Farm Business Management Update, February 1998

By Gordon Groover and Lex Bruce of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech

Since 1994, Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists and agents have taught 2 and 3-day workshops to more than1200 farm managers in 88 locations in Virginia. Computer Classroom on Wheels (CCW) workshop classes included introduction to farm business computing; introduction, intermediate, and advanced farm record keeping using Quicken; introduction to spreadsheet applications; farming the Internet; introduction to QuickBooks, computerized pesticide record keeping; introduction to PC-DART, and beef cow herd management.

To understand the impact of the CCW workshops a survey was mailed to all 1996 and 1997 (345 workshop participants providing a complete address). The survey was conducted in three mailings in October and November. Incomplete and/or incorrect addresses resulted in 43 returned surveys leaving a population of 302. Participants returned 222 usable surveys yielding a 74 percent response rate.

Highlights of the survey:

• 62.5% of the participants said that as a result of CCW they were now "often" or "almost always" using computer in their farm business.
• 13.6% of the participants said that as a result of CCW they had decreased or increased a farm enterprise.
• 63% of the participants said that they "often" or "almost always" used a computer to keep farm business records. Business records were kept by 51% of the participants with the majority of these posting records daily/weekly or monthly.
• 10% of the participants said that they often or almost always used the computer for answering "what if" questions.
• 28.4% of the participants said that they "often" or "almost always" now used a computer to for whole farm or enterprise budgeting.
• 16.3% of the participants said that they "almost always" used the computer for their budgeting.
• 27% of the participants said that they now used the computer "often" or "almost always" in making management decisions.
• 76% of the participants said that the quality of information pertaining to their farm records had improved to "some extent" or "to a great extent" as a result of participating in CCW.
• 69% of the participants said that they now made better farm management decisions to some extent or to a great extent as a result of participating in one or more CCW workshop.
• 67% participants said that they now had more confidence in their farm management decisions to some extent or to a great extent as a result of participating in CCW classes.
• 19% of the participants reported that they were now using the Internet in their farm business as a result of participating in CCW.
• 34% of the participants said that they had established an Internet connection for their business or home as a result of participating in CCW.
• 26% of the participants said they had or were receiving individual assistance from an Extension agent as a result of participating in CCW.
• 29% of the participants said their level of contact had increased with VCE as a result of participating in CCW.
• 30% of the participants said they now work more face-to-face with Extension personnel as a result of participating in CCW.
• 56% of the participants reported that they had either purchased, or upgraded a computer as a result of participating in CCW classes.
• 57% of the participants reported purchasing or upgrading software as a result of participating in CCW.

What have we learned? Teaching hands-on computer application has provided a valuable service to Virginia's farmers. Virginia's farmers are interested in obtaining hands-on instruction in basic computer applications and how computer applications can be used in day-to-day management. Once mastering basic skills, many farmers are actively seeking additional training in business, livestock, field, and pesticide record keeping and knowledge on how to use this information in analysis and planning.

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