An Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits

Marcelo Wallau, Bob Hochmuth, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Mark Warren, Carissa Wickens, Prissy Fletcher, and Cheryl Mackowiak

Release Date: 10/20/2024

DOI: 10.32473/edis-ag480-2024

Agriculture

Abstract

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship building, problem solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems and developing deeper connections with stakeholders (Petrzelka, Padgitt, and Windestenn, 1999). These visits provide firsthand knowledge of the issues clients face and are effective in establishing collaborations, assessing needs, understanding agricultural production systems, and validating research applications (Oakley and Garforth, 1985; Seevers and Graham, 2012). This publication explores different facets of farm and site visits, including preparation before the visit, the investigative (problem-solving) process during the visit, and post-visit procedures. Additional resources are included to support client visits and troubleshooting.

About this Publication

This document is SS-AGR-485, one of a series of the Department of Agronomy, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2024. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. © 2024 UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

About the Authors

Marcelo Wallau, associate professor, forages, and forage Extension specialist, Department of Agronomy; Bob Hochmuth, assistant center director, and RSA, vegetables, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley; Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Extension agent III, commercial horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County; Mark Warren, Extension agent III, agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Levy County; Carissa Wickens, associate professor, Department of Animal Sciences; Prissy Fletcher, Extension agent, commercial agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County; and Cheryl Mackowiak, associate professor, soil and water science, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

How to Cite

Wallau, M., Hochmuth, B., Sanchez-Jones, T., Warren, M., Wickens, C., Fletcher, P., & Mackowiak, C. (2024). Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits. EDIS, 2024(5). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-ag480-2024

Authors

Marcelo Wallau

Contact

Specialist

University of Florida

associate program leader for agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension, and forage Extension specialist and associate professor, UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy

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Robert Hochmuth

Specialized Agent

University of Florida

Extension agent IV and assistant center director, vegetables, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center—Suwannee Valley, Live Oak, FL

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Tatiana Sanchez-Jones

County agent

University of Florida

Extension agent III, commercial horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Gainesville, FL

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Mark Warren

County agent

University of Florida

county Extension director and Extension agent III, UF/IFAS Extension Levy County, Bronson, FL

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Carissa Wickens

Specialist

University of Florida

associate professor and equine Extension specialist, UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, Gainesville, FL

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Evelyn V. "Prissy" Fletcher

lecturer and academic advisor, UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, Gainesville, FL

Cheryl Mackowiak

Specialist

University of Florida

associate professor and Extension specialist, Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center

View Cheryl Mackowiak's Profile

Publication #SS-AGR-485