Extension Economist, Team Receive National Recognition

Auburn, Nov. 4, 2003 --- For the second year in a row, an Auburn University faculty member served on a team that received national recognition for its efforts to educate agriculture professionals about new federal farm policy.

Dr. Jim Novak, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System economist and Auburn University professor of agricultural economics, received the Outstanding Public Issues Program Award along with other members of the team.  The award was presented to the education team by the 2003 National Policy Education Committee and the Farm Foundation.  The team also received the 2002 award. 

Composed of Extension specialists from eight states and from the Washington, D.C.-based office of the Farm Service Agency/USDA, the team was recognized for its work with the National Extension Farm Bill Train-the-Trainer Program.  

Novak and other members of the team developed this program to acquaint agricultural professionals with the new provisions outlined in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, commonly known as the 2002 farm bill. The 2002 farm bill, which differed significantly from the 1996 farm bill, created a great deal of uncertainty among many professionals, who were not sure how policies outlined in this new legislation should be interpreted and implemented.

Working with the USDA's Farm Service Agency, Novak and other team members developed an educational curriculum that was provided at four train-the-trainer meetings held in major cities across the United States before the implementation of the 2002 farm bill.  According to a USDA representative, "The regulations had not yet been written when this training took place. Yet we did not have to go back and revise or correct even one item of the training materials when the regulations were put in place."

More than 60 farm professionals attended the meetings, each of whom, it is estimated, subsequently trained an additional 1,000 professionals employed in a wide array of farm-related industries. In turn, these 1,000 people assisted more than 100,000 landowners and farmers with farm decision making related to the farm bill. 

The team also received the 2003 Farm Service Agency/USDA Administrator’s Award in appreciation for their efforts.

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