FCES 2013 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results:
Responses about using information and suggestions for
improvements in service
Hendry County
Responses about using information
I'm a journalist, and I use IFAS Extension information frequently in my reporting, particularly on disease
issues. I believe the last time I used the Hendry County Extension site specifically was for an article on
citrus black spot, including information on extent of known infections and quarantine areas. I generally
find extension information very helpful and accurate and easy to comprehend for the non-scientific
layman such as myself.
The seminar was an update on greening disease of citrus and was very informative. It is too early to
determine what the future results will be, but I believe we are going in the right direction.
I have attended many seminars on citrus production, on many issues and problems that we face in the
industry. There is no single need or problem, or single request for information, for which results can easily
be described, as requested above.
Helped provide information that was informative and easily shared with my costumers in developing and
explaining a yearly plan for their groves.
It is a tool we can use in our business. It will help in trying to find the desirable answer.
Citrus production in FL is currently a miasma of maladies, all trying to kill our trees and our business.
There is some rapid natural selection going on now...and the uninformed and undercapitalized will not
survive. This creates economic opportunity for those growers willing and able to go long in our industry.
There is no current solution to our problems, only a ton of industry sponsored research which is difficult
for growers to keep up with. We depend on our Extension professionals to disseminate this information.
The information pertaining to water and soil pH is extremely important to tree health since we are shifting
to the root of our problems. The roots are extremely susceptible to decline once infected with HLB.
Almost 1/2 of the fine roots are lost before HLB symptoms are seen in the canopy. This means that we
need to prevent further decline by aiming to manage root health along with our current HLB management
program.
We are told about the right way to apply the chemicals, about the dosage ,the possible resistance etc. And
we follow those recommendations. If we are not satisfied, we ask more questions to different experts and
we get it to our satisfaction. And this is available sometimes 7 days a week and this is cheap .and the
answers are straight forward .
Ranking of ACP pesticides has been very helpful. Enhanced Nutritional Programs and _____ rejuvenation
work is important and useful. Effect of HLB on citrus roots and Phytophthora very important
On a residential level so as to provide info to local residents on how they may save their trees.
Obtaining CEU's and core credits for herbicide license. All information was given and classes were taken.
I don't know which Citrus Seminar that you are referring to in this survey and it wouldn't change my
general responses. I am satisfied with most of the content and delivery of the information that I receive
through the Extension Service programs and will continue to support the programs as my schedule and
needs permit.
I work for the county Property Appraiser and these programs that we attend help keep us current with
what the farmers are facing. Also, helps us understand new information which is coming out to help our
farmers. I have attended these meetings as often as I can for 20 plus years. It has been very helpful to our
office. Over the years we have referred many up and coming farmers to IFAS Extension for help and
information that no one else can give. Extension is a must for agricultures future.
The information keeps me updated about the progress against greening, helping Pride to make better
management decisions.
Working extremely hard to save my groves, production etc. Been in business 40+ years, graduated from
UF in fruit crops. Dr. Zekri is constantly exploring techniques to help this industry. I value his opinions,
seminars etc.
Identification of plant diseases, helpful in control of the problem / Able to buy proper kind of fertilizer,
the correct chemical
How to take care of citrus problems.
Needed information re: landscape and other types of plants.
About fertilizer, zones plants and many more
Still fighting with attacks on my citrus, fig tree and loquat tree
I do a clinic for residents on a walk in basis / There are many questions on various topics / Any added
information that we can learn, aids in us giving the public quality and useful information
For future reference, to have if needed.
Problem greening/fertilization Still working on it. Showing much improvement
I had no idea what I started on our landscape 19 years ago with a garden had 8 mango trees 1 coconut
palm 2 honeybells - pruning constantly using citrus nutrition spray on foliage granular via root neighbors
and many new predators ie spiraling white fly/ficus white fly crystalline leaf minor lethal greening grubs
sod webworm became a full time impossible stressor in my life which started out as a fun filled challenge
as a hobby. My wife had been on my case to make our life simple now! She's been on my case big time
last 3 years. My interaction with you guys and talking to other people in the audience helped me make a
decision with zero regret. I got rid of everything hired a lawn cutter service for every 4 summer months.
Got rid of a huge futile task with was trying the impossible in managing all the new predator pests that
made Southwest Florida their new home. The property is so open and naked and almost maintenance free,
We have a pomelo which was damaged by frost and has never come back. It has been a year and one half
now and it has about 6" of growth sprouts since the frost. My concerns were not addressed by the seminar.
Citrus canker, citrus greening sprayed and foliar feeds as suggested. Used charts and info to evaluate
problems. Also brought in leaves.
Over watering
We were using chemicals with resistance and because of your recommendations made changes to our
programs.
Irrigation on crops.
Irrigation injection methods and scheduling
Cost effective protected agriculture (tunnel) design. -Fertility management -Irrigation management
To send my son to Counselor camp and Cloverleaf camp. All information was timely and complete.
I have attended many workshops and meetings at the Extension office. I have had the need to learn about
irrigation, pesticides, fungicides, general market news and in every visit, the information provided has
been timely and very helpful. My entire farming operation has benefited for the information obtained at
the Extension office.
I attended the Crop Management seminar for information but also class style. I will be creating a class to
teach missionaries and development workers about IPM and how to create their own program.
Drip irrigation and how much would it lower chlorides in the root zone.
I wanted a chemical product that would kill mites but not whiteflies.
Training purposes -Kept in library
Wanted to know best fertilizer rate for Florida lawn and applied fertilizer according to IFAS information
and the lawn look good.
I have distributed the info to my 4-Hers. I then find a guest speaker or the topic to better explain to
members on topic. I have received a lot of information from extension office.
Keeping abreast of disease and insect levels in sugarcane and citrus as well as suggestions for
management. Information is utilized to direct field recommendations. Information insures accurate and
timely recommendations to area growers.
We had some brown rust. Information received allowed us to understand the seriousness of the problem
and what actions to take.
Drip irrigation information. Grew a successful crop this spring with Drip. the class confirmed some water
management plans and gave suggestions of types of materials available
Effect of application has not taken affect yet
Provided additional training opportunities for my field employees. Provided additional CEU opportunity
for employees' pesticide license renewal.
Understanding sugarcane fertilization rates and flooding tolerance
Information was used in development of the agricultural _____ control program (receiving credit from
BMPs) in the C-139 Basin and areas north of Lake Okeechobee.
There was no immediate need for information - I was making a presentation at an IFAS training session in
Belle Glade.
I attended a workshop at the Immokalee center that helped me better understand farming practices in the
EAA.
I learned about BMP's and what BMPs that we at USSC can conduct on our farm and meet requirement.
How to run our pump and how to stage riser board to drain back of property first that may not have
drained doing it the old fashioned way. I learned to select the right spray tip to get desired results - not
wasting chemicals.
Sugar cane disease: Rust
Need materials for educational needs
Orange and brown rust in sugarcane.
The information helped me in my research program.
Information regarding applied rates of fertilizer on transitional soils for sugar cane.
They gave me the answers to the questions I asked, and if they couldn't they referred me to another
Extension office in my area. And was very courteous in doing so. And if they said they would get back to
me, they did exactly that and didn't waste a lot of time.
1. From the start (onset) Dr. R. Raid explained the rating system (thresholds) to spray. 2. Creation in new
varieties coop with USDA is the lifeblood of any cropping system!
I work for the Florida Sugar Cane League and we are very concerned about orange rust and the Mexican
Rice Borer. I already work with sugarcane varieties and provide some of the information on rust to IFAS
and the USDA. Knowledge of the Mexican Rice Borer lets me know what to look for when I am scouting
sugarcane fields.
Info helped decide on new varieties and what to plant in fall. Info on Orange Rust - what it looked like and
how to treat it. I used info to treat Orange Rust infected cane field with positive results. Info on Mexican
Rice Borer will be used in the future.
Disease ID, progression and how the info presented in the program helped me make fungicide application
decisions.
Information on controlling orange rust was needed to understand best methods of controlling rust with the
most economical practices.
Learned how to properly check for orange rust in sugarcane and proper chemical to apply to control it.
Regular pest pressure update helps me know what to focus resources on.
Basically the different variety performance
We are working with your information in many topics of problems that we have in sugarcane and rice.
Your information is a good complement in our jobs.
Identify weeds
Orange rust. Spray timing. it was seemingly effective.
The difference between oranges and brown rust and how they affect sugarcane.
General knowledge to discuss issues affecting sugar cane industry.
I did comparison with applications of Ionized Active Silicon (ZUMSiL)
I need more information on orange rust and the Fungicide program needed to control it.
Rust identification, spray threshold
Continuing to understand nutrient use eff. is key to all areas of Production Ag as well as Green Industries.
More in the plant less in the environment. There is a real gap in understanding around the segment biostimulants.
CEUs for state license
Spray regulations
I learn the three chemical selective and the important work with this material.
Received study manual for core test - study and passed. Received study manual for aquatic test and
attended day presentation at Center study and passed. Received study manual for public health test study
and passed.
IFAS (Dr.Raid and Gene McAvoy) conducted several fungicide trials to identify the best control of
downey mildew on basil crops along with many other herbs and eggplant and we follow the
recommendations. Dr. Kelly Morgan and Gene McAvoy have helped us with phosphorus use for BMP's
and soil ph control. He has recommended using a "Olson" soil test method to better quantify our available
soil P level which we are comparing this season. Dr. Sanjay Shukla and Gene McAvoy has helped us
reduce P discharge by participating in a water detention improvement project. They also help with drip
irrigation and water use issues and currently working on improvement of bed geometry with them for
better watering pattern when using drip irrigation. We work with Dr Belinisky Santos with growing
organic basil under high tunnels where he is investigating organic growing substrates and organic
fertilizers.
We had a problem with blossom end rot in pepper even though soil analysis said we had enough calcium.
We felt it might have been "tied up" in the soil. We will try N-phoric on a limited basis to see if it makes a
difference. I am very satisfied with the information and support I get from the Extension service.
Poisonous weed information. The information provided helped to get my lantana under control.
This information was given to city employee that was in charge of the oak trees. The oaks were getting
water drip 24/7 which was too much. Water was then turned on once weekly. They are doing well now,
of course all the rain has helped.
Pasture that was formerly an orange grove had been overgrown with a combination of grasses and other
vegetative matter. We were looking for a forage combination that would best for our beef cows, and I had
read of a perennial peanut combination with Bahia grass. I wanted to know from the extension whether
that combo would work in my latitude and region, and what I should do to propagate that combo. A
section has been seeded and we are waiting on the rain and nature to take its course.
Very helpful office. Fast with responding.
I was doing a PPT presentation as a Lee County Master Gardener. Gene McAvoy was of great help with
"real use" facts that I was searching for, not "book facts". Gene has been a great help to my gardening
group and my 4-H. I don't know how he does all that he does.
attended master gardener training and have assisted people already with the information I learned
Right plant /right place. Citrus issues /solutions. Turf issues /solutions. Fertilizers. Pests -control
I live 7 months (permanent resident) in Port Charlotte in a condo community with 368 units -non-gated. I
believe in growing FL native non-invasive plants. I needed information about FL plants to encourage our
residents to begin replacing plants that take gallons and gallons of precious expensive water to maintain
because they are not native to FL. The area is 9 acres. This is a project in process - It is on-going due to
limited budget - all volunteers. A map of area is available and our first walk through (on site survey) is in
the planning for Dec 2013. The information, handouts, field trips to local gardens coordinated by
Extension office has been very informative to our condominium garden committee.
Frizzled palms. Learned to use manganese & have seen positive impact /
I have only been in Florida for 11 years, and I had a lot to learn. The Master Gardener program brought
me up to date on so many questions I had about my gardens. Now that many of my friends know that I
have been through the program I have many friends want to talk to me about the program. I have been able
to help many, and myself.
Informally, useful both personally and questions from friends and acquaintances. Also, immediately after
Master Gardener classed finished, found meaningful volunteer work with other (experienced, expert)
Master Gardeners from whom I am learning constantly.
I have worked at the Plant Clinics several times; there I used what I learned in class as well as IFAS Fact
Sheets to answer many questions.
The information was part of the Master Gardener training program in Charlotte County. I am using the
training to answer questions by others and to help me in my gardening endeavors.
I needed information on the Beef industry to give a presentation. I felt very informed and the presentation
was received very well.
was trying to decide whether to purchase and plan a fig tree for its fruits. decided not to based upon the
success at the center.
I worked on the Plant Lifeline and used some of the materials to assist a caller looking for information
about her citrus trees. She was satisfied with the information I was able to provide.
It was very helpful when I completed the MBA program.
I am a 4-H leader and needed the information to help the kids prepare for county and district events.
I call on Gene McAvoy frequently, as well as Lindsey Wiggins on occasion. I am a real estate broker who
specializes in ag properties, groves and farm leases. Gene is so incredibly helpful. He is always quick to
respond and if it's something he doesn't have an answer for, he steers me to someone who does. I feel he is
a great asset to our agricultural community and I pass his contact information along to most of my
customers, always confident that he will assist them. Many of my customers are new to agricultural
endeavors and I feel like it's especially helpful for them to have such a resourceful person as Gene
available to them. I have consulted him many times in the last year so don't know which time prompted
the survey. Lindsey has also been helpful to me in the past when I had customers starting a new cow/calf
operation and more recently with a hay farm that I am marketing. /I have consulted Gene on everything
from Moringa trees to beekeeping, row crops to groves and hay fields, biofuel crops to needing a farm
manager. He is just great!
Soil test for growing pasture grass. Recommended the amount of lime, fertilizers and grass type. Got
grass.
I am in constant need of field trial results and ratings for new pesticide and fungicide products. I utilize
the information generated by the studies conducted by IFAS Extension to make determinations about if,
how, and when to incorporate a new product or products into my pesticide and fungicide spray program.
Thanks to the trial work done by IFAS Extension and the accuracy of the reported findings, the results are
usually favorable as predicted.
I have lived at this spot since 1954 I did sell fruit enough to pay taxes and out to eat now and then now 30
trees 1 bu. of fruit was told to give. up. This won't happen I keep planting new.
Passed info on to beginning orange grower.
I'm a trade journalist for the citrus industry, and the programs aimed at citrus growers always provide me
with good information to pass on to citrus growers and production managers.
Suggestions for improvements in service
You do a good job. Keep it up.
Frankly, I am not sure you could improve the current level of service and expertise that we are receiving
from the Hendry County Extension Service or the REC at Immokalee. They are doing a great job.
No suggestions at this time.
I believe also bringing growers to share theirs experiences in some of the workshop.
Just keep Going , I think all the information has been very important to us / thanks everybody
I believe that IFAS has a flawed model of professionalism for Extension REC faculty vs. the Research
faculty. The Land Grant model of President Lincoln is Teaching, Research, and Extension. The notion
that Extension faculty are required to publish the same as Research faculty (or perish) detracts from the
Extension mission. Perhaps Extension publications and presentations can substitute for the referreed
journal articles in this circumstance. I can think of a number of extension faculty who are well regarded,
even superstars by the clientele, but were never even promoted to full professor because of the flawed
system. This is a travesty and a prime example of the old adage that "no good deed goes unpunished".
So, in my county, we have an excellent staff of professionals who were underpaid (and
underappreciated?) by IFAS hierarchy. The industry reps went to Gainesville and devised a Multi-county
Agent status which more accurately represented what they were doing already in our region, and allowed
them better pay within the university system. It shouldn't be so hard to reqesrd good people when you
get them.
You all are doing a great job thanks.
1-Place the monthly programs on the internet for future reference. / 2-Give webinars / 3-More in the
field meetings / 4-Give a frank talk to the growers :"show up to those meetings and stop b____, " / I am
very happy with what we are getting in Immokalee
All PowerPoint slide presentations should be made available on-line along with any handouts. An audio
file (or video) would be very useful.
Provide as much as possible in lay terms.
The program was a scientific paper presentation with an abundance of technical information. I think the
audience would have preferred a presentation oriented toward practical information.
I am not a Hendry County resident or producer. I provide fertilizer products for the blenders that deliver
mixed fertilizers to the producers within the county.
Most farmers work two jobs and do not have the time to attend these informative meetings or call for
help because they are working a daytime job. Farming is after work and on weekends. Extension needs
to look at working Saturday, more of a hands on visit the farmer day.
Keep us informed as you have been doing. Continue your trials of chemicals, timing of applications, what
type of applications, e.g. ground, air. Give results with opinions of success or not. It's so vital to save our
citrus industry in Florida.
They are doing a great job. Couldn't ask for better!
You could have meeting in summer and more on growing vegetables.
This is a very good and helpful program. You should continue this. I like to see more guests coming to
talk about different fruit trees, soil, watering etc.
Promote ways to get IFAS Extension known in the community
More classes, classes are very informative and useful
It is a long way to travel to the extension and restricts attending many events
I would love to have regularly scheduled information "classes" so there is ongoing invaluable background
from which to make growing decisions - would there be demand for this?
They ran out of handouts.
I can't tell how you can improve your services. Your course that day was so helpful educating me what I
needed to do post retirement. Thanks!
Have a couple more experts available to answer questions. The citrus growers dominated the question
and answer period.
Your service and programs are excellent. I have attended other great presentations. Thank you so much
Additional training on sizing filter systems, pumps and water piping in general. Water education: pH,
sodium, etc.
To me I think you guys are doing the best you can on your behalf to make things easy to understand
trying to help around the county as well. I'm new at this but I really appreciate your time that you guys
spend with us. Thanks
Continue to maintain open communication with actual/urban community.
Increase staff numbers in field
Provide more information on governmental aid to small farming operations and BMP information.
Maintain current services and availability of agents.
More specified aspects of Irrigation Management. It was a good beginner course, but almost none is a
beginner that is farming.
I am in Manatee county -but do appreciate all the information coming from Hendry county. It is good
info -so do not mind the drive. Timing was good. Was not too lengthy.
It took 6 months to get the information. Problem was solved already.
Did a great job!
The meeting was about Irrigation Management. I think you could have 3 levels of this meeting,
Basic/Intermediate/Advanced. There was so much more information that could have been given to the
growers. For example, Automation verses Manual Operation.
Nothing! the Extension staff is very helpful.
We are very well served by the Extension staff and do not have any recommendations for improvements.
No suggestions at this time.
Provide monthly updates of classes available in the future
I am satisfied with the services provided by the Extension office.
The county Extension office in Hendry is top notch! Staff is wonderful - Information is easily accessible
and plentiful! We appreciate them!
Try and coordinate emails from neighboring extension personnel so that growers don't get the same
emails from two or three different extension offices.
Cannot think of an improvement at this time.
Offer more programs.
To offer this meetings more often, mainly during the summer.
More speakers in the room -just because the speaker thinks he has a loud voice, sometimes it hard to
hear.
Keep us informed on all farm practices and anything relevant to sugarcane.
Nothing
Get more involved with small growers and give them the assistant they need to be successful in what they
are doing.
Keep up the good work. Utilize newspaper (or social media) to share P.S.A. facts/tips relevant to
Extension-topics and build Extension awareness.
It is my understanding that Ron Rice is working on developing a web based information center for
commercial sugarcane cultivars in Florida. This can be an extremely high impact extension activity. To
the extent possible, I encourage that he be supported with this effort.
The Hendry County Extension Office is always helpful. Both the Extension agents and staff are willing to
discuss issues and what is being done to solve them or provide the current recommendations on how to
deal with it. There is not really anything I can think of to improve the service.
Keep up the good work that you are doing. Very good communication with all the Extension offices.
Thank you
I am sure any system can be improved! Will like to see weeds ID + Herbicide performance. but little
cooperation from Asulam -manufacturer
Update the variety information on IFAS website. I know that Dr. Ron Rice is working on this project.
A field demo is very useful and educational when possible. Hands on always helps me.
Sugarcane extension does a good job. Vegetable extension could be more helpful esp. on the marketing
side i.e. "Farm to School"
N/A
Everything is great
Everyone in the office in LaBelle are very helpful and friendly.
Try to update regularly. Some presentations seemed to be repetitive from previous meetings.
I think that you are doing a very good job given to the grower tools that we need in our work.
The services are very good.
Nothing needs to change
You do a great job!
N/A
Feel very confident that all information was explained well.
Make tests with alternative products that aren't chemical fungicides.
More information on vegetable crops would be useful. Insecticide evaluations of new products for silk fly
control, if any come up would be a good idea. Any presentation with CGA credits would be helpful.
Southwest Florida needs to be combined into a region that includes SWREC and the county offices. They
do not currently work well together.
I found no issue at this time. It's a very helpful program.
Love the CEUs, pesticide info, labeling and requirement updates
Math difficult. Allow more time.
Hi I'm NAME I have one problem I don't understand the test very well in English for me is very difficult
to past the test. Why don't permit use a translator or to take the test in Spanish. Thank you.
I found the services to be totally acceptable for my needs.
Extension should try to get more IFAS scientists helping farmers with applied, on farm research and
technology to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The IFAS economists should get a better idea on
production costs and marketing, food safety and labor issues and costs to better help farmers succeed and
compete in the global market place.
Presentations on new technologies and how to use them to grow produce safely with the least amount of
inputs and on using social media.
Very satisfied with the services the Extension staff has provided.
nothing at this time
You folks are doing a great job.. No suggestion comes to mind. I suppose you could come and weed for
me, but I think that would be asking a little too much. Take care..
Make sure the community is aware of you and your services. Remind them.
I can't think of anything at this time. Clone Gene maybe.
More hands on training in fields specific to most commonly encountered problems. Example being
people do not know how to trim their plants to promote growth and healthy plants and it appears that
most of the lawn people doing their trimming don't know either. More hands on pruning lessons on
various ornamental plants would help educate master gardeners so that they could teach the information
when in the field
Maintain the present courses, etc. They are excellent. If possible, offer a few evening classes at the main
branch public library in Port Charlotte on increasing Florida (non-invasive) native plants on their
property. People who are employed would be available to attend.
Generally more promotion of the services available. I understand the expense of advertising but the
community benefits so much.
The program was so good that this is difficult to answer, but if I had to pick an area, the hands-on
experiences were outstanding, more of these would be great.
I am happy with the current services that are provided.
It would be very helpful to have recommendations on further study. The IFAS resources are fantastic and
extensive, yet sometimes you need a little more detail.
I work for Wells Fargo. We have an extensive community outreach program and volunteer effort that I
would like to use to the benefit of the Master Gardener and other Extension programs. I tried to have the
FL Master Gardener program added to their approval organization list but could not (other states' master
gardener programs are included on the list and take advantage of what Wells Fargo offers). Here is the
response I received: "To be listed on the site, all organizations must be 501c3 approved charities with
their EIN# registered with www.guidestar.org, our charity vetting partner. They must also be pub 78
verified and listed on the IRS Business Master File. The organization you have suggested is not listed on
guidestar, and therefore at this time is not eligible to be listed on the site. Attached is information the
organization will need to register with guidestar (They attached the guidestar policy for adding a new
organization). It is a free process." Once the FL Master Gardener program is added - or the U of F IFAS
Extension - just let me know, and I'll have us added to the Wells Fargo list. She said it is a quick process.
Thank you. I am also going to send this to someone with your organization via email.
provide dates sooner
More programs like this throughout the year
The services are excellent don't think they could be improved.
I think Gene McAvoy is a wonderful asset, and call on him whenever I have an Ag related question. / I
would personally enjoy some intro type general Ag classes, regarding what services are offered, soil
testing, Ag options, crops, etc. for me and my customers, and would love to see a beginning citrus
caretaking class offered.
Facilitate web based training
Keep up the excellent work
I'm very satisfied with the way information is currently provided.