2018 UMass Extension Vegetable Program Survey

Introduction

Thank you for taking this survey. Your responses will help us adapt the UMass Extension Vegetable Program to better suit your needs. The survey should take you about 10 minutes to complete.

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* 1. Please select the option below that best identifies your connection to farming

Farm owner

Farmworker

Home gardener, community gardener, hobby farmer

Agricultural Service Provider

Extension

Other (please specify below)

Other (please specify)

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* 2. In what state or U.S. territory do you live?

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* 3. If you live in Massachusetts, what county do you live in?

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* 4. How many years have you been farming?

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* 5. About how many acres do you farm in a typical year?

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* 6. What crops do you grow? Check all that apply.

Mixed vegetables

Tree fruit

Small fruit (e.g. raspberries, strawberries)

Nursery crops

Hydroponic vegetables or herbs

Other (please specify)

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* 7. The mission of the UMass Extension Vegetable Program is to be a trusted source of accurate information, working to support vegetable growers statewide and promote agriculture in MA. We provide applied research and education that is relevant, unbiased, science-based, practical, innovative, environmentally sound, financially responsible, and socially just in order to enhance the economic, human, and environmental health and sustainability of the vegetable industry in Massachusetts.

Our goals are to:
1. Develop and deliver valuable and effective educational programs and resources
2. Conduct research the is relevant and applicable; and
3. Support growers and promote agriculture in Massachusetts.

To what extent are Vegetable Program educational programs and resources valuable and effective for vegetable growers in Massachusetts?

Not at all valuable

Somewhat valuable

Valuable

Very valuable

Extremely valuable

I haven't attended Vegetable Program educational programs or used resources

Not at all valuable

Somewhat valuable

Valuable

Very valuable

Extremely valuable

I haven't attended Vegetable Program educational programs or used resources

Do you have any suggestions for making Vegetable Program educational programs and resources more valuable and effective?

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* 8. Please list up to three specific educational programs you would like to attend in the future.

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* 9. How relevant to Massachusetts vegetable growers is the applied research being conducted by the Vegetable Program?

Not at all relevant

Somewhat relevant

Relevant

Very relevant

Extremely relevant

I'm not aware of Vegetable Program research

Not at all relevant

Somewhat relevant

Relevant

Very relevant

Extremely relevant

I'm not aware of Vegetable Program research

Do you have any suggestions for making the Vegetable Program's research more relevant and applicable?

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* 10. Please list up to three research topics/questions you would like to see studied.

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* 11. To what extent is the Vegetable Program successfully supporting growers and promoting agriculture in Massachusetts?

Not at all successfully

Somewhat successfully

Successfully

Very Successfully

Extremely Successfully

I don't know how the Vegetable Program supports growers or promotes MA agriculture

Not at all successfully

Somewhat successfully

Successfully

Very Successfully

Extremely Successfully

I don't know how the Vegetable Program supports growers or promotes MA agriculture

Do you have any suggestions for how we can more successfully support growers and promote agriculture in Massachusetts?

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* 12. A specific goal of our program is to increase the use of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices listed below. Please rate your confidence in using the following practices.

	Not at all confident	Somewhat confident	Confident	Very confident	Extremely confident
Scouting and/or monitoring for pests	Scouting and/or monitoring for pests Not at all confident	Scouting and/or monitoring for pests Somewhat confident	Scouting and/or monitoring for pests Confident	Scouting and/or monitoring for pests Very confident	Scouting and/or monitoring for pests Extremely confident
Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE)	Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE) Not at all confident	Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE) Somewhat confident	Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE) Confident	Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE) Very confident	Using a forecasting model (e.g. NEWA, Blitecast, RIMPro, CDM-IPM-PIPE) Extremely confident
Identifying pests	Identifying pests Not at all confident	Identifying pests Somewhat confident	Identifying pests Confident	Identifying pests Very confident	Identifying pests Extremely confident
Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing)	Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing) Not at all confident	Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing) Somewhat confident	Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing) Confident	Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing) Very confident	Maintaining optimum conditions for crop health to increase tolerance to pest damage (e.g. proper irrigation, fertilization, plant spacing, planting timing) Extremely confident
Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties	Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties Not at all confident	Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties Somewhat confident	Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties Confident	Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties Very confident	Cultural practices e.g. crop rotation, mulches, insect netting, resistant varieties Extremely confident
Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles)	Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles) Not at all confident	Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles) Somewhat confident	Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles) Confident	Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles) Very confident	Optimizing spray timing and coverage (e.g. application timing, using adjuvants, selecting nozzles) Extremely confident
Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes	Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes Not at all confident	Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes Somewhat confident	Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes Confident	Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes Very confident	Using reduced risk pesticide tactics e.g. choosing the right material, rotating classes Extremely confident
Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers	Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers Not at all confident	Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers Somewhat confident	Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers Confident	Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers Very confident	Consumer education e.g. discussing crop or pest management issues with consumers Extremely confident
Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius)	Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius) Not at all confident	Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius) Somewhat confident	Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius) Confident	Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius) Very confident	Using biocontrols (e.g. releasing Trichogramma or Pediobius) Extremely confident
Maintaining food safety standards	Maintaining food safety standards Not at all confident	Maintaining food safety standards Somewhat confident	Maintaining food safety standards Confident	Maintaining food safety standards Very confident	Maintaining food safety standards Extremely confident

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* 13. Below is a list of services and resources that we currently offer. If you have used any of these, please rate the usefulness.

	Not at all useful	Somewhat useful	Useful	Very useful	Extremely useful	I haven't used this service/resource
Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc.	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. Not at all useful	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. Somewhat useful	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. Useful	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. Very useful	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. Extremely useful	Educational programs e.g. twilight meetings, field walks, presentations at winter meetings, etc. I haven't used this service/resource
Food safety trainings	Food safety trainings Not at all useful	Food safety trainings Somewhat useful	Food safety trainings Useful	Food safety trainings Very useful	Food safety trainings Extremely useful	Food safety trainings I haven't used this service/resource
Vegetable Notes newsletter	Vegetable Notes newsletter Not at all useful	Vegetable Notes newsletter Somewhat useful	Vegetable Notes newsletter Useful	Vegetable Notes newsletter Very useful	Vegetable Notes newsletter Extremely useful	Vegetable Notes newsletter I haven't used this service/resource
New England Vegetable Management Guide	New England Vegetable Management Guide Not at all useful	New England Vegetable Management Guide Somewhat useful	New England Vegetable Management Guide Useful	New England Vegetable Management Guide Very useful	New England Vegetable Management Guide Extremely useful	New England Vegetable Management Guide I haven't used this service/resource
Hot water seed treatment service	Hot water seed treatment service Not at all useful	Hot water seed treatment service Somewhat useful	Hot water seed treatment service Useful	Hot water seed treatment service Very useful	Hot water seed treatment service Extremely useful	Hot water seed treatment service I haven't used this service/resource
Soil or plant diagnostic lab services	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services Not at all useful	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services Somewhat useful	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services Useful	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services Very useful	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services Extremely useful	Soil or plant diagnostic lab services I haven't used this service/resource
Email or phone consultation	Email or phone consultation Not at all useful	Email or phone consultation Somewhat useful	Email or phone consultation Useful	Email or phone consultation Very useful	Email or phone consultation Extremely useful	Email or phone consultation I haven't used this service/resource
On-farm consultation	On-farm consultation Not at all useful	On-farm consultation Somewhat useful	On-farm consultation Useful	On-farm consultation Very useful	On-farm consultation Extremely useful	On-farm consultation I haven't used this service/resource
On-farm research project	On-farm research project Not at all useful	On-farm research project Somewhat useful	On-farm research project Useful	On-farm research project Very useful	On-farm research project Extremely useful	On-farm research project I haven't used this service/resource

Are there any additional services and/or resources we might offer that would benefit your farm business?

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* 14. In order to improve or expand our program, we may need to start charging or increasing fees for certain services or resources. How willing would you be to pay for the following resources or services to help offset the costs?

	Not willing	Somewhat willing	Willing	Very willing	More than willing!
Personal on-farm consultations	Personal on-farm consultations Not willing	Personal on-farm consultations Somewhat willing	Personal on-farm consultations Willing	Personal on-farm consultations Very willing	Personal on-farm consultations More than willing!
Newsletters	Newsletters Not willing	Newsletters Somewhat willing	Newsletters Willing	Newsletters Very willing	Newsletters More than willing!
On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks)	On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks) Not willing	On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks) Somewhat willing	On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks) Willing	On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks) Very willing	On-farm meetings (e.g. twilight meetings, field walks) More than willing!
New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version Not willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version Somewhat willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version Willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version Very willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Print Version More than willing!
New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version Not willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version Somewhat willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version Willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version Very willing	New England Vegetable Management Guide - Online Version More than willing!
Conferences	Conferences Not willing	Conferences Somewhat willing	Conferences Willing	Conferences Very willing	Conferences More than willing!
Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series)	Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series) Not willing	Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series) Somewhat willing	Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series) Willing	Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series) Very willing	Full-day, in-depth workshops in off-season (e.g. winter school series) More than willing!
Pest scouting service	Pest scouting service Not willing	Pest scouting service Somewhat willing	Pest scouting service Willing	Pest scouting service Very willing	Pest scouting service More than willing!

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* 15. Are there areas, in addition to those listed below, that you would like us to develop expertise in to better support your farm business? E.g. business management, weed management, technology, urban farming, hydroponics, high tunnel management.

List up to three.

Current expertise areas:
Nutrient management, soil health, reduced tillage, cover cropping
Biological control
Biopesticides
Hot water seed treatment
Organic production practices
Pest scouting & monitoring
Disease management
Insect pest management
Pesticide use and Pesticide Safety (WPS)
Food Safety
Risk Management

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* 16. What are the major challenges for your farm or farming career? List up to 3.

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* 17. What do you see as a major challenge to the vegetable industry in Massachusetts?

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* 18. What do you see as a major opportunity for the vegetable industry in Massachusetts?

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* 19. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!

Would you like to become part of our stakeholder group? This group of Massachusetts growers and ag service providers meets at least one time per year for a day-long workshop to provide feedback on our work and share their farming challenges and goals. If so, please provide your contact information below.

Or, contact us at umassvegetable@umext.umass.edu if you're interested.

Name

Business or Organization

State/Province

Email Address

Phone Number