Identifying Agriculture and Forestry Educational Needs Using Spatial Analysis Techniques

The development and delivery of effective educational programming requires the identification of community needs. This article introduces a relatively simple method for integrating Agricultural Census data with a geographic information system to summarize farm characteristics at multiple scales. A case study of Tennessee farm and forest data illustrates how this method can help prioritize Extension and outreach efforts to most efficiently address landowner needs. Results indicate the applicability of this method for focusing educational efforts in areas where programs can optimize agricultural profitability and environmental quality.