One of the greatest tools for a gardener is their local extension office. The cooperative extension is a partnership between federal, state, and local governments. It provides informal education regarding land management, crop information, and more. Primarily directed towards rural communities, it also has a wealth of information for the urban gardener. Your local county extension office will partner with universities and local professionals to disseminate information surrounding a wide variety of gardening and other topics.
What Is the Cooperative Extension Service?
An extension office is a subcategory of a wider agricultural knowledge base. The organization structure starts at the federal level with the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. These in turn partner with state organizations such as universities. And finally, local organizations and businesses utilize professionals and volunteers to spread information regarding the protection of the environment, food safety, emergency preparedness, and much more. There have been over 100 years of cooperative extension in the United States. Their goals are:
- Translate science into applicable action
- Identify and answer questions on agricultural, economic, and social issues
- Break the cycle of poverty, help youth prepare for adulthood, and encourage healthy lifestyles
- Provide responses and prevention to emergencies
- Connect civilians to information and assistance
Benefits of an Extension Office
The cooperative extension service in regional capacity develops 4-H programs, food production systems, community development, forestry and land management strategies, horticultural information, health and wellness topics, and water management programs. As a gardener, agricultural extension services extend well beyond simple planting advice. They can provide soil tests to help you manage your soil health. They will have knowledge on the types of plants suitable for your area, how to manage insect and weed pests, and more. They also manage a Master Gardener’s program where individual citizens can get trained on a variety of topics that they then help spread to the wider community. Their basic services are:
- Soil testing
- Farm and property visits
- 4-H programs
- Family and consumer science programs
What Does an Extension Agent Do?
Extension agents are employed by land grant universities, or state or county organizations. Their purpose is to serve as experts on the topics of agriculture, animal production, family, community development, and health and wellness. They may teach courses at the university or be involved in research projects. They will develop programs of value to the community and give talks and manage events related to such topics. They work with volunteers and teach within the 4-H program. They work with other professionals to translate scientific knowledge into relatable and accessible language for the community.
How to Use an Extension Office
If you open an extension site online you will be able to access videos, blogs, and other informational sources. It will also list any programs available. In my state there are such programs as turf grass science, sudden oak death education, organic agriculture, plant pest diagnostic services, and much more. The site also divides the extension service into counties. You may click on your county and there will be links for items of interest to that locality. This is also where you can ask gardening questions of the Master Gardeners, either via phone, email, or in person. You can ask questions about plant, weed, and insect identification, specific plant queries, get native plant information, and general plant knowledge.
How to Find Your Local Extension Office
First you must find your extension office. A quick internet search should show the one in your state. It will be affiliated with a large university but will have satellite offices across the state. You may also call the agriculture department of your state’s university for information on where your local office can be found. Your local telephone directory will list the locations of the cooperative extension system or CES. And if you go to the USDA website, there is an interactive map which will show the state’s main extension office. Contacting them will help you find your county office. An in person visit to your county office will provide you with leaflets and pamphlets on many interesting topics, information on when and where the next Master Gardener clinic will be, and many more useful resources.