Determining the research, education, and Extension needs of Oklahoma wheat producers

Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to collect stakeholder input for the Wheat Working Group (WWG) within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at Oklahoma State University (OSU). The population of stakeholders identified by the WWG faculty were Oklahoma wheat producers. A proportionally stratified random sample of 750 wheat producers was drawn from a sample frame that included the population (N = 15,000) of wheat producers in the state. Over 30% of the producers sampled returned a completed survey instrument. The researcher-developed survey was the product of qualitative analysis of extensive interviews with the WWG faculty members. The survey items were designed to gather information about the characteristics of wheat producers and wheat production in Oklahoma. The instrument was reviewed by the WWG faculty and a panel of experts for validity, and pilot tested for reliability. This was a descriptive study; however, the analysis included inferential procedures, t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-squared to test for differences between respondents and nonrespondents, between subgroups, or between geographic areas.; Findings and conclusions. The major finding of the study was the importance of the beef-on-wheat production system in Oklahoma. Over 90% of the wheat producers were grazing cattle on their winter wheat crop. Oklahoma wheat producers with off-farm jobs vary significantly from those without off-farm jobs. Part-time farmers were younger, better educated, less dependent on government agricultural programs, and operate smaller farms than fulltime farmers. Part-time farmers were the only growing segment of the population of wheat producers, which is declining overall. Oklahoma wheat producers most often sought wheat production information from friends, family, other farmers, or businesses like seed and fertilizer dealers. Economics were most important to wheat producers when making wheat production decisions, five of the six factors they considered very important were economic factors. Wheat producers had few direct connections to OSU on-campus staff and faculty. However 65% of wheat producers participated in Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) wheat programs.