The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources makes impactful contributions to the agricultural and natural resource sectors on a regular basis. These contributions are made through researchers’ commitment to social science inquiry and understanding public perceptions on important issues related to agriculture and natural resources. Learn more about the impact the PIE Center’s research and educational programs are having on Florida in our most recent Impact Report.
Extension Agent Mace Bauer (right) and a watermelon farmer examine a soil moisture monitoring device. Farming, irrigation. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
The Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) program is a partnership of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the five Florida Water Management Districts and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension. After the implementation of the BMP program in several Florida counties, the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) was contacted to evaluate its effectiveness and develop communication materials to expand its outreach.
The goals of the BMP program are to encourage agricultural producers to adopt best management practices and to increase the public’s trust in the Florida agriculture industry.
The PIE Center was asked to evaluate Florida residents’ change in perception of agricultural best management practices and water use following the implementation of BMP extension education programming. Additionally, the PIE Center created a variety of communication materials to educate the public on best management practices.
“The PIE Center’s comprehensive approach for the BMP project resulted in tangible changes for the Best Management Practices program,” said PIE Center Director and professor of agricultural education and communication Ricky Telg. “Educational materials, social media content and public opinion research gave the BMP program resources to continue growing their outreach in the future.”
Telg oversaw the PIE Center’s efforts and led the development of communication pieces for the BMP project.
“In 2017, the PIE Center was approached by the BMP program to conduct research and create media resources related to best management practices in Florida,” Telg said. “The overall components of this project included infographics, social media strategy, success stories and public perception research.”
Agricultural education and communication graduate students worked with the PIE Center to create media and educational materials for the BMP project. Working with the PIE Center offered graduate students hands-on experience in the agriculture industry.
University of Florida agricultural communication graduate student Shelby Oesterreicher wrote stories for Florida Grower magazine to showcase the success of the BMP program. The magazine inserts highlighted various agricultural producers around the state who use best management practices. The inserts explained how these producers were conserving water in their operations and what others could learn from their practices.
“For the magazine inserts, I interviewed watermelon, strawberry and potato farmers. I asked each of them questions about the best management practices they use on their operations and ways in which they conserve water,” Oesterreicher said.“Our hope was to increase awareness of best management practices, as a whole, and the technology that is associated with them.”
Social media was another key aspect of the BMP project. Prior to the PIE Center’s involvement in this project, the BMP program did not have a presence on social media. UF agricultural communication graduate studentGordon Yoder developed content to promote best management practices on various social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram.
“We created social media accounts for the BMP program,” Yoder said. “The PIE Center’s goal was to educate the public on what best management practices are and educate growers on resources available through IFAS Extension.”
The other component of the BMP project was public opinion research to measure the success of BMP educational programming. Two surveys were created and distributed to the general public. Survey respondents were asked a variety of questions regarding their trust in farming practices, thoughts on resource use and knowledge of best management practices.
“Overall, the general public has a very positive perception of farmers’ relationships with the natural environment,” Telg said. “The surveys for this project reinforced past research conducted by the PIE Center, showing that the public believes farmers are doing the best job they can to preserve and conserve our natural resources.”
To learn more about Best Management Practices and what farmers are doing to conserve Florida’s resources, visit http://bmp.ifas.ufl.edu.
Watch: Best Management Practices
