Agricultural Extension: a review and case study in the Tasmanian dairy farming sector

Agricultural extension aims to improve farmers' capability, capacity and adaptability so as to farm in a sustainable and profitable way in a world of constant change and ongoing challenges. Extension is adult education achieved through the organised exposure of adults voluntarily to the thoughts, ideas, concepts and practices both of their peers as well as of professionals with relevant knowledge and experience. Government funding of extension has been steadily reduced and funding for extension is increasingly sourced from farmer levies and other private funding agencies. Funders, including the public sector, have become more insistent that funded extension programs need to demonstrate their effectiveness, measured largely as on-farm practice change. The Pasture Plu$ project was a three-year extension project (2005 - 2008) aimed at improving Tasmanian dairy farmers' business skills over a range of farm management areas. An evaluation of the project concluded that significant potential for practice change had been achieved. This paper explores the efficacy of the Pasture Plu$ project from an educational perspective and argues that in terms of adult learning principles, the project content and delivery has equipped farmers with practical information enabling them to make practice changes to ensure ongoing viability and profitability for their farm businesses.