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Small Farm News Fall 1998


Small Farm News Survey Results

In the Small Farm News December/January 1997/98 issue, we asked you to share your thoughts about our newsletter. Here you will find a summary of your answers and also get a clearer picture of the people who are reading the newsletter along with you.

1. How long have you been receiving Small Farm News? (in years)
Total responses: 393

  • Less than 1 year: 12 or 3%
  • Between 1-5 years: 324 or 82%
  • Between 6-10 years: 49 or 13%
  • Between 11-20 years: 8 or 2%

2. What section(s) of the Small Farm News do you read?

Main Features
Total responses: 463

  • Always: 363 or 79%
  • Sometimes: 100 or 21%
  • Never: 0

Director's Message
Total responses: 449

  • Always: 219 or 49%
  • Sometimes: 206 or 46%
  • Never: 24 or 5%

Program News
Total responses: 446

  • Always: 285 or 64%
  • Sometimes: 150 or 34%
  • Never: 11 or 2%

Farmer Profiles
Total responses: 454

  • Always: 303 or 67%
  • Sometimes: 145 or 32%
  • Never: 6 or 1%

News Notes
Total responses: 449

  • Always: 341 or 76%
  • Sometimes: 108 or 24%
  • Never: 0

Resources
Total responses: 457

  • Always: 336 or 74%
  • Sometimes: 121 or 26%
  • Never: 0

Calendar
Total responses: 446

  • Always: 297 or 66%
  • Sometimes: 133 or 30%
  • Never: 16 or 4%

Specialty Crop Features
Total responses: 459

  • Always: 336 or 73%
  • Sometimes: 119 or 26%
  • Never: 4 or 1%

3. The length of the feature articles in Small Farm News is
Total responses: 451

  • Too short: 38 or 8%
  • About right: 408 or 91%
  • Too long: 5 or 1%

4. The technical information in the articles is:
Total responses: 449

  • Not enough: 99 or 22%
  • About right: 348 or 77%
  • Too detailed: 2 or 1%

5. Should the Small Farm News change to a quarterly format?
Total responses: 361

  • Yes: 123 or 34%
  • No: 236 or 66%

(Editor's note: Due to resource considerations, we are now on a quarterly schedule.)

6. What topics would you like to see in Small Farm News?
Total Responses = 127

  • specialty crops: 37 responses or 26%
  • organic topics: 23 responses or 19%
  • marketing: 17 responses or 14%
  • general farming: 11 responses or 9%
  • farm equipment: 8 responses or 6.5%
  • economics: 8 responses or 6.5%
  • miscellaneous: 23 responses or 19%
  • Miscellaneous topic suggestions included:
    • desert farming
    • horticultural therapy
    • livestock/dairy
    • pest management
    • policy
    • water issues

    7. Have you changed practices as a result of information in the newsletter?
    Total Responses = 354

  • No (260 responses or 73%).
    Comments included:"But share information with others."

  • Yes (94 responses or 27%).
    Comments included:"The December/January 1997-98 issue on capers made me think of ways to broaden my production base."

    8. Using the sections listed in question 2 as a guideline, what section(s) of Small Farm News could we improve?
    Total responses = 136

    • specialty crops: 25 or 18%
    • organic topics: 6 or 4%
    • crops (general): 2 or 2%
    • farmer profiles: 8 or 6%
    • main features: 12 or 9%
    • Director's Message: 6 or 4%
    • Calendar: 22 or 16%
    • News Notes: 7 or 5%
    • Resources: 5 or 4%
    • Miscellaneous suggestions: 43 or 32%

    9. Have you ever visited our web site?
    Total responses: 459

    • Yes: 102 or 22%
    • No: 357 or 78%

    10. What is your primary/secondary occupation?
    Total Responses = 419

    • Farmer primary occupation = 56 or 13%
    • Grower/rancher primary occupation = 11 or 2.5%
    • Farmer primary/other occupation secondary = 30 or 7%.
    • Secondary occupations include:
      • certified public accountant
      • organic fluid advisor
      • real estate investor
      • school bus driver
    • Farmer secondary occupation = 40 or 10%. Primary off-farm occupations include:
      • banker
      • correction officer
      • engineer
      • fireman
      • tree surgeon
      • Primary Occupations (non-farm) include:
        • consultant = 12 or 3%
        • Cooperative Extension employee = 35 or 8%
        • educator = 33 or 8%
        • gardener/gardening related = 4 or 1%
        • government agency employee = 10 or 2%
        • journalist/writer = 16 or 4%
        • management = 18 or 4%
        • nursery owner/worker = 6 or 1%
        • researcher = 16 or 4%
        • sales = 20 or 5%
        • student = 6 or 1%
        • other = 106 or 25%.
        • "Other" occupations include:
          • attorney
          • biochemist
          • counter top installer
          • deputy sheriff
          • mother

    11. With which ethnic or cultural group do you identify?
    Total response: 434

    • African American: 6 or 1.5%
    • Asian: 10 or 2%
    • Caucasian: 373 or 86%
    • Latino/Hispanic: 7 or 1.5%
    • Native American: 10 or 2%
    • Other: 16 or 4% including
      • 1 = Middle Eastern
      • 3 = American
      • 1 = European
      • 1 = Welsh-Cornish
      • 1 = Irish-American
      • 9 = Left blank

    • Dual ethnic/cultural group responses included:
      • Caucasian/Native American = 5 or 1%
      • Asian/Caucasian = 1 or 0.2%
      • Caucasian/Croat = 2 or 0.5%
      • Asian/Caucasian/Latino/Hispanic = 1 or 0.2%
      • African American/Caucasian/Latino/Hispanic = 1 or 0.2%
      • Caucasian/Latino/Hispanic = 1 or 0.2%
      • Caucasian/Gypsy = 1 or 0.2%

    12. What is your gender?
    Total responses: 450

    • Male: 293 or 65%
    • Female: 157 or 35%

    13. What is your age?
    Total responses: 421

    • Between 20-30: 8 or 2%
    • Between 31-40: 60 or 14%
    • Between 41-50: 150 or 36%
    • Between 51-60: 126 or 30%
    • Between 61-70: 54 or 13%
    • Between 71-80: 20 or 5%
    • Between 81-90: 3 or 1%

    Total survey responses = 478.

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