Producer Attitudes and Farm Management Education

Abstract

The results of this study indicated that education level does not influence net farm income per operator. However, the education level of the farm operator spouse did have an impact on net farm income per operator. Regarding the level of importance the farm operator places on participation in agricultural risk management programs and the level of importance the farm operator places on the financial management of the operation with respect to net farm income were both inconclusive. While several survey components tied to those research questions did have a positive impact on net farm income, the results for both of these research questions was inconclusive. The most revealing part of the study showed that farm managers valued the educational components of this study that were tied directly to the farm management instructor much more than those educational components that were not tied directly to the farm management instructor.