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1 DOCUMENT RESUME .Ep 261 825 RC 015 459 TITLE Southern Rural Development Center Annual' Progress Report, FY 1985. SRDC Series No. 80. INSTITUTION Southern Rural Development Center, Mississippi State, Miss. . PUB DATE Sep 85 NOTE 18p.; Period Covered: October 1, 1984 to September 30, 1985. For 1984 report,.see ED 254 357. , PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) 4 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS. Community Development; Computer Oriented Programs; *Conferences; Extension Education; Farm Management; Land Grant Universities; Land Use; *Linking Agents; *NetwOrks; Professional Continuing Education; Publications; Regional Programs; *ResearchNand., Development Centers; *Rukral Development; Small Businesses; Water Resources IDENTIFIERS Puerto Rico; *Southern Rural Development Center MS; United States (South); Virgin Islands ABSTRACT In fiscal year (FY) 1985 the Southern RUral Development Center (SRDC) was engaged in 24 major activitiVs that responded to the rural problems of the 'region and supported the . community development efforts of '29 land-grant universities in 13 southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The work of the SRDC Business Management Network culminated in FY 1985 with the nationwide distribution of materials for small business manage-Ment training. Plans are underway for several regional. conferences that will address issues such as the interdependencies of agriculture and rural communities, water quality, and economic development for small communities. Materials development sponsored by the SRDC has includgd training for local officials in the'selection and use of computers in government and a bibliography on water law and water rights in the South. Nine studies or projects are investigating topics such as agricultural, land coffversion, water resources management, 4nd rural labor markets. TheSRDC's advisory committee formulated a 1986 plan of work that gave top priority to the farm crisis and its impact on rural communities, broad economic strategies for rural communities, and small farm assistance. The Center's information dissemination program produced a training manual for rural officials, newsletters, conference proceedings, reprints, etc. (JHZ) e- ************************-*****t***************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** "41 0 CC L ga US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAVINSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDuCAT,oNAt. RESOuriCts INFORMATION Ok. CENTER ERIC' Tr, rlt, twer, rep'On,;,e1-415 11:, oql..01,1t.On M111, r, Vet,d,1 1.1041J Rr,',h it , +,4. ,111/4, 5'0,1 hk, PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY unot-U-) TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) .r. 1985 Annual Progress Report SOUTHERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER BOX 5406 MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY I MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS 39762 a Al. ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FY 1985 BOUT -H E R N . R 'U R A L b EVELO,PM:ENT C,ENTER Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina . Oklahoma Puerto Rico South Carolina Tennessee Texas. Virgin Islands Virginia ! l DR. H. DOSS BRODNAX Interim Director c DR. JEROME L,. BURTON Assdciate Director r c 3 si E A 1 , Ak .. . TABLE OF CONTENTS A. BACKGROUND I T B. ORGANIZATION , 2 C. ADMINISTRATION . 2 D. SRDC STAFF , \ 1 4 E. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 5 F: INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 12 I / l, Ilk II ( A4NNU.A L REPORT .., October 1, 1984 to September 30, 1985 A( BACKGROUND' i, / The Southern Rural Development Center is one of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Each center' provides support staff to community development efforts of land-grant university Extension Services and Experiment Stations throughout the nation.% Tbe Southern Rural Development Center was formed In 1974 and lbcated ,at Misissippi State University. Other regional centers are located at Iowa State University, Oregon State University, and Cornell University. The Southern Center focuses specifically ,on the rural problems of the region and supports the community development efforts of 29 laiid-grant universities in 13 Southern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. / The SRDC receives funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Extension Service and Cooperative State Research Service. 'Although located at Mississippi State University, the Center is jointly sponsored by Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University. The Southern Center exists primarily to provide the best possible information and assistance to extension and research staffs- Within the South as they respond to rural development needs in local communities. This is accomplished through such means as the following: . 1. Provide a central point for regional information gathering, interpretation, analysis and dissemination. 2. Conimunicate research findings and successful extension programming ideas through conferences, workshops, seminars and publications. 3. Serve as a linking mechanism for improved communication between states. 4. Facilitate interaction between research and extension personnel. . 5. Provide staff training at regional and subregional levels. 6. Provide funding for development of programming ideas, with widespread regional application. 5 .11 4 2 B. ORGANIZATION Effective regional participation is a critical factor in the success of the Southern Rural Development Center. While the Center is physically located at Mississippi State University, the, organizational structure has been designed to permit active involvement of other states in program determination. To insure the 'opportunity for strong regional participation, four elements have been included in the organizational concept. iFirst, the Board of Directors includes membership from not only 1862 and 1890 institutions but also members from both the Experiment Stations and Extension Services throughout the South and a representative of the private sector. Second, each participating land -grater university appoints an Institutional Rural Development Program Advisory Committee to review the work of the Center and make suggestions for how the Center's program of work can be more supportive and responsive to the individual institutions and their plans of work. Each one of these committees elects a chairprson who will meet annually as a member of the Southern Regional Rural Development Program Advisory Committee. Composed of the 29- inStitutional committee chairpersons or their representatives, this advisory committee makes recommendations to the SRDC Board of Directors concerning program priorities. Third, the SRDC continually seeks advice and guidance in determin-7 ing program needs, program direction and program implementation from rural development professional groups such as the Southern Community Development Committee, the 1390 Community Resource Development Committee, the Southern -Natural Resource Economics Committee, the Southern Extension Public Affairs Committee, and the Southern Rural Sociology Committee. I Fourth, the Center funds and provides, support to teams of_ %. researchers and educators from several universities in an effort to concentrate on pressing rural problems. Through such projects as small farm operations, health care, rural industrialization, etc., the.Cep,ter establishes regional cooperation in gathering,, summarizing`, and disseminating research knowledge about critical rural needs. It also identifies rural programs cif each state and shares the features of that program with other 'states", C. ADMINISTRATION. The Center is directed by a nine-padmber Board, of DirectorS with each member serving a three-year term. The membership is ` composed of four representatives .frop' Extension Servi e (three from.1862 institutions and one from an 1890 institution , four representatives from Experiment Stations (three from 862 institu- tions and one from an 1899 institution}, and one repr sentative from the private sector. 3 The extensi n representatives are appointed by the Southern Association. of Extension Directors and the AssociatiOn.of 1890, Extension Administrators. The research Iepresentatives are appointed by the Southern Associatiori of Experiment Stapon Directors and" the Association of 1890 Research Directors. The chairman of the ,board seeks nominations from, every state Extension Service Director/Administrator and every state Experiment Station Director/Administrator for the private sector representatiNfe. The Center is directed by a nine-member Board of Directors with each membet serving a three-year term. Dr. Preston E. La Ferney currently serves as Chairman of the Board, Those members comprising the SRDC Board include the following. Dr. Arthur' L. Allen Administrator 1890 Programs University of Arkansas at Rine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR 71601 pr. Chester D. Black Director Cooperative Extension Service North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC. 27695 Dr. James R. Carpenter Director Cooperative Extension Service Missisisippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762 Dr,' R. Rodney Foil Director Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762 Mr. Jesse B. Holder Director of Agriculture Research Freeport Sulphur Company P.O. Box 61520 New Orleans, LA 70161 Dr. Robert L. Hurst Vice President, 1890 Research & Extension South Carolina State College Box 1765 Orangeburg, SC 29117 7 a 5:4 r4 ar Dr. Preston E. La Ferney Directol% Agricultural Experiment. Station University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 Dr. Denver Loupe Director Cooperative Extension Service Louisiana ,State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Dr. A. W. Snell Associate Direct Or Agricultural Experiment Station Clemson University 104 Barre Hall Clemson, SC 29631 Dr. Denver Loupe, Director of the Louisiana/Cooperative Extension Service, was appointed to serve a three-year,- term. He replaced Dr. Tat Du Vail, Director of the Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Dr. ,DuVall completed his second three-year term on the Boarc1. D. 4". SRDC STAFF Staff members of the regional center include the following: 1. ,Dr. H. Doss Brodnax, interim Director, 2-. Dr. Jerome L. Burton, Associate birectp- 3. Sue H. Jones, Editor 4. Bonnie Teater, Administrlative Secretary 5. Sandra Markley, Administrative Secretary 6. David Miles, Printer (Part-time) 7. Jane Rendeiro, Editorial AssiStant (Part -time) After directing the SRDC since its inception-in 1974, Dr. William W. Under died in February. The Board of Directors appointed Dr. H. Doss Brodnax in April to serve as interim director. Sheila Buc ner, Administrative Secretary, resigned in June and was repl Fed in August by Sandra Markley. Dr. Charles J. D. Tillman, Exte ion CRD Specialist at Alcorn State University, served a joint a ointment as SRDC Rural Development Specialist until his reapignment as head of the Department of Agriculture at Alcorn. The Center collaborates with many university faculty members throughout the region on research and extension projects. A close review of this report indicates the use of their expertise on a contributed -time basis. 8 5 E. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES SINCE OCTOBER 1, 1984 1. Small B "Jsiness Management Training--The Center has taken the lead in a cooperative project with the other regional centers to prepare and distribute national extension programming materials in small business management. These materials were formally introduced during a Small Business Management Training Workshop June 12-14 at the Ramada Inn Southwest Airport in Memphis. Thirty partici- pants from more than 20 states attended the workshop. The three-day meeting was designed to train CRD specialists to use the new programming material in an effort to provide rural merchant's with businss management training. Dr. Dennis Fisher of Texas A&M University was the primary author okthe training materials and helped coordinate and lead' the Memphis woMshop. Dr. Ken Stone of Iowa State University contributed material to the training package and also assisted in leading the workshop sessions. M \e than 650 copies of the programming material will be distributed to every land-grant university in the nation and to the many other organiza- tions that have ordered copies. Development of these materials 'climaxes the work of the SRDC Business Management Network.. The network was formed in 1981 to complement the efforts'of the North Central Region Business Management Interest Network.. The original purpose of both networks was to develop and share business man- agement extension programming materials and to pinpoint extension personnel involved in this program area. The work of both net-1 works expanded in October 1984 when SRDC editor Sue H. Jones and D-r. Fisher flew to Reno, Nevada, to meet with CRD specialists from 11 states. These, specialists represented each of the four regional rural development centers. The meeting resulted in acceptance of the small businqss management materials as a national effort to be sponsored by all centers and made available to all CRD .unfits throughout the nation. 2. Interdependencies of Agriculture and Rural CommunitiesThe SRDC arranged for Dr.. Bill Golden of t e University of Georgia to repre- sent the South at a February conference sponsored by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. Since that time, Georgia has taken the lead in planning a similar regional conference for the South. Dr. Howard Ladewig of Texas A&M University and Dr. Bo- Beaulieu of the University of Florida attended the initial planning meeting in">.March. Dr. Rusty Brooks of the University of Georgia is coordinating the planning efforts and is expected to announce a.winte'r 1986 date for the regional conference. As plan -. nine' got underway for the interdependenconference, the USDA-ES convened representatives from eac region`May 8-10 in St. Louis to discuss the Possibility of national coordination in emphasiz- ing the interdependencies of agriculture and rural commOities. Dr. Doss Brodnax of the SRDC and Mississippi State University, Dr. Jerome Burton of Alcorn State University, Dr. Sam Fowler of Auburn University, Dr. Howard' Ladewig of Texas A&M University, and Dr. Steve Murdock of Texas A&M University represented the South at this meeting. 6 3. Water Quality: Agriculture and Community ConcernsThe SRDC is copperating.with the Southern Community Development Committee to host a regional water conference November T-8 at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia. Other sponsors include the Farm Foundation, Southern Extension Public_Affairs Committee, and the Extension Agricultural and Naftiral Resources Program Leaders Committee. The workshop objectives include the following: (1) to bring together researchers, extension educators, agencies and organizations involved in regulatory activities, and representativevof affected governmental levels in order to determine the nature, cause, and extent of water quality problems in the-region; (2) to determine the current level of research-based knowledge available to under- stand and address the issues; and (3) to produce proceedings from the workshop that may be utilized by extension and .others in the region to develop educational materials to be used in providing factual information to the public. Conference coordinator Eddie Wynn of Clemson University hosted a planning meeting May 14 in Atlanta and nine individuals participated in a conference call June 27. Another planning session was held prior to the regional CRD program lea ers' meeting in Oklahoma City during _July. The SRDC eirepared adv ce brochures in July and sent them to each state CRD leader for distribution within the state. A second brochure with a complete agenda and listing of speakers was sent to more than 3,300 persons throughout the South during September. In addition to helping coordinate the workshop, the SRDC is preparing all the printed material for the meeting and will publish a tabloid proceed- ings and a full proceedings. Microcomputers for Local Government--The SRDC is developing new extension programming materials for training local officials how to select and use computers in local government. Dr. Mike Woods of Texas A&M University is proYiding the leadership for this effort and will develop the materials and test them during a statewide confer- ence for Mississippi local officials November 7-8. at Missisgippi State \ University. The conference will. bp jointly sponsored by the SP.DC and the Center for Governmentar-Technology at Mississippi State University. The Center for Governmental Technology is a division within the CRD unit of the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Ser- vice. After the workshop, Dr. Woods will make any necessary revisions to the material and then the traini g packet will be distrib- uted to each Southern CP.D unit. It is exp ted to include a pro- gram summary, teaching outline, slide set a d script, overheads, background material for lecture notes, hand ut material, and publici- ty samples. 5. Water Law and Water Rights in the South--Dr. Roy Carriker of the University of Florida is completing revisions to a bibliography and synthesis intended to serve as a time saver for individuals who have no training in law and need information about law as it pertains to state and regional water policy issues. 6. Economic Development Conference--The Center has been in touch with state CRD leaders concerning an agenda for a proposed Econom- ic Development _Conference. Members of the Center staff met in February with -staff member's of the National Center, for Small 10. Communities in Washington, D.C., and discussed joint efforts to . develop' such a conference. The NCSC may provide some of the program leadership for the conference, but a specific time or pro- gram agenda have not been determined. Plans for the conference have been delayed in order to obtain greater reoional participation in planning the program agenda. 7. ,Rural Development Program Advisory Com 'ttee- -This committee is composed of the chairperson of each institu onal program advisory committee formed in each Southern state for he purpose of input into the SRDC plan of work. These represe tatives met July 22-23 at the Southern Center to help formulate the 1986 plan of work and to recommend program priorities. The July meeting marked the first time the SRDC has taken such an approach to develop its plan of work for the next year. Each committee member reported on the results of(0--e-vious meetings of the Institutional Rui-al Development Program Advisory Committees at each of the land-grant universities. These reports focused on research and extension needs as perceived by each institutional commi ee. The advisory committee then grouped and ranked all t e needs.. This procedure resulted in the following priority, recom endations for the work of the Center: Primary Issues Farm Crisis and Its Impact on Rural Communities (i.e.; farm crisis consequences and impacts, action programs for farm families affected by the farm crisis, off-farm alternatives, etc.) Broad Concept of Economic Strategies for Rural Communities (i.e., economic strategies for developing rural communi- ties, inventory'' of economic assets of a community, indus- try retention, impact analysis for decline and growth, community impacts of change in agricultural sector, commu- nity and farming interactions, etc.) Small Farms (i.e., strategies for assisting small and part-time farmers, small farms marketing, integrated approach, alternative cropping systems, farmland retention as applied to minority ownership, etc.) Secondary Issues Alternative Financing for Rural Governments (i.e., alternative sources of revenue for rural 'communities, consolidation of community services, effects of federal cuts on rural com- munities, budgets for community services and facilities, etc:) Leadership Development Water Issues Miscellaneous Issues (not in any order) Housing Journal Housing Renovation Housing Directory International Trade and Competition--What resources can we use 1'0 compete? Social Supports for Elderly Rural Crime 11 sr Health Clinics ,1+ Banking Change and Effect's. on Community Quality of Rural Education Marketing of Land Grant Institutions--EXtension and Research Computerized Bibliographies 'Computer Inventory of CRD Programs Small BuSiness Programs Directory of Research Projects Urban Low-Income Families Low-Income in Rural Areas Rural Clergy Training Rural Work Force Farm Tourism as Alternate Source of income- . 8. Impact of Agricultural Districts on the Retention of Agricultural Land Property Tax Distribution: A Case Study in Virginia--Dr. Sandra Batie of Virginia Polytechnic' Institute and State University is the principal investigator for this research grant. The project Was, scheduled for completion in March 1985 but was extended until September 1985. The research objectives include the following: (1) development of a definition of "prime agricultural land which- includes economic as well as physical attributes that can be related to agri7- cultural land retention goals; (2) identification of the economic factors influencing agriculture land conversion; and (3) analysis of the effectiveness of agricultural iiistricts in terms of changes in property values, tax revenues and tax incidence.. The research team completed the economic modeling required for the first objec- tive, development of an economic definition of prime land. They completed model specification and identified data requirements for this objective. Three Virginia counties were chosen as the project study area for objectives two and three. Progress on objectives two and three included behavioral and economic modeling and selection of appropriate economic estimation procedures. The research team also surveyed county administrators across the state to elicit information about the formation of agricultural districts within their counties. Researchers are conducting a mail survey of Board of Supervisor members in 96 counties across the state and a sample of landowners including members and non-members of agricultural districts in Culpepper County, 9, Rural Community Water Resources Management Under Conditions of Price Sensitive DemandUnder the leadership of Dr. Dean F. Schreiner of Oklahoma State University, this research project- was designed to improve existing rural water services planning procedures. Specific objectives included the following : (1) identification 'of existing procedures used in planning water services for rural areas; (2) development and estimation of residential, business, industrial and municipal demand functions for water in rural areas; (3) development and estimation of investment, operations and maintenance cost functions for water services in rural areas; (4) examination of the effects of alternative water pricing policiesincluding'grants and subsidies--on the use and conservation of water in rural areas; and (5) modification proposals' to improve, existing water services plan- ning procedures based on results of the above objectives. This 12 9 , project has been completed and "a final research report will be printed soon for distribution throughoul the region. 10. Adoption of Microcomputer Technology Among Farmers and Local Govern ments -Dr. Lionel J. Beaulieu of the University of Florida is princi- pal investigator for this research project. The objectives are as follows:. (1) determine how and to what extent the lo't of microcomputers in lo I government and on the farm is contingent upon the diffusion strategies utilized by public agencies serving them (such as the Cooperative Extension Service) and upon the diffusion strategies of for-profit agencies (computer manufacturers, computer dealers, computing services, etc.); (2),. determine the farm's structural conditions and constraints (e.g.,' capital, farm-size, level of management, amount of hired labor) for adcess to the technology among different agriculturel commodities- (e.g., citrus, nurseries, vegetable drops, dairy and swine) and -, assess the potential consequences of differential rates of adoption on agricultural structure; (3) ascertain the characteristics of local governments (e.g,., size, innovativeness of management, level of information about the innovation) that make access to and adoption of microcomputers possible; (4) develop recommendations t5 guide public institutions that serve rural governments and the farm commu- nity in the diffusion of this-technology. I 11. The Economic Analysis of 'Alternative Trash Collection Methods for Rural Towns and Cities--A Case Study of Mississippi/Alabama--Principal investigators for this research project are Dr. Lynn L. Reinschmiedt and Dr. Steve Murray of Mississippi State University.. The objec- tives of thes-project include (1) identifying existing methods used to collect trash (yard clippings, tree limbs, leaves, etc..) in the South-, east, (2) estimating the cost of alternative methods of trash collec- tion under various conditions, and (3) identifying the most economic methods of trash collection under these specified conditions. '12. S-148 Changing Structures in Agriculture -Dr. Joe Winer of Auburn University is. coordinating a workop entitled "Toward a Sustainable riculture in the South: 7C-cTnseAwences for the Family Farm,. Rural mmunities, and Society." This workshop will report the results of the S-148 regional committee. The SRDC will help support this conference and has assisted in mailing pre-conferencp brochures for the OctOber 9-11 meeting at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in Attan- taCeorgia. 13. Public Use Microdata Ohe Percent Sample -In FY 1984 the Center laid the groundwork for a joint effort with other regional centers to prepare .a special public use microdata one percent sample from the 1980 Census based on a request of the S-184 Technical Committee. The Economic Research' Service has contracted with Dr. Charles Tolbert of Florida State University to delineate a national sample of about 250 units of rural labor market areas on a multi-county basis. Dr. Tolbert will draw a one percent public use sample from these* same areas. This data set Will link individuals and hou'seholds to multicounty labor markets and allow researchers to analyze charac- teristics of labor markets and persons who reside withi,n them. Thi4" will be-the only existing data set that will allow the identification of ow' 10 r rural labor markets, -and it will include data from all states including Alaska and 'Hawaii. The data also will offer a unique opportunity for comparative analyses across regions as well as between urban and rural areas. The Center expectS Dr. Tolbert to make this census data Information available during, October 1985. 14. Analysis of Employment Changes in the Rural South and Their Economic and Educational Implications- -The SRDC is cooperating With the Southern Growth Policies Board, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Ford Foundation to (1) examine differences In employment trends between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in the. South by sectors of the economy; (2) identify a panel of experts to interpret trends andsuggest explanations and policy implications; (3) bring the information to the attention of the governors; legisla- tors and other decisiohmakers of the Southern states-through the Southern Growth Policies Board in order to generate strategies that will insure continued rural economic growth; and (4) establish a .continuing network of Southerners to monitor rural development issues. In addition to the Center director, members of the advisory network include Rusty Brooks, University of Georgia; Arthur Cosby, Mississippi State University; Brady Deaton; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Fred K. Hines, USDA-ERS; Jim Hite, Clemson University; Daryl Hobbs, University of Missouri; Sheron Randolph, Tennessee State University; Helen Roberts, American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Jonathan P. Sher, Rural Education and Development, Inc.; Barbara ,Smith, Southeast ttk Women's Employment Coalition; Alton Thompson: North Carolina Arr,, University; Mike Woods, Texas A &M "University; Ed Bergman, Card Fulreader and Mu Xinming, University of North Carolina; and Stuart Rosenfeld. and Andi Reynolds, Southern Growth Policies Board. The purpose of the project is. to determine employment trends in the South by state find industry in order do determine whether discern- ible growth or decline patterns exist in nonmetropolitan'counties as compared to metropolitan counties. After the employment trends have been determined and compared, the study will attempt to define those characteristics associated with growth and decline and then make policy recommendations to Southern states. These recommenda- tions will help the states devise new ways to spread economic devel- opment beyond metropolitan areas. The findings to date were unveiled at the June 26-28 meeting of the Southern Growth Policies Board. The SRDC will cooperate with the SGPB to plan a joint conference to develop policy recommendations based on these findings.. 15. National Extension Task Force for Community Leadership - -This national task force evolved, from an earlier project by the North Central Regional Center for Rural .Development. The North Central project was initiated to develop an inventory of ongoing community leadership materials. This effort expanded into a national task force supported by all four regional centers for the' following purposes: --To identify appropriate extension staff in all program areas, research staff, and non-extensibn persons who are involved in community leadership prOgrams. 14 r -To give leadership to establishing an ongoing system of sharing . information on.community leadership programs of interest to extension. -To identify and recommend to state Extension Services, regional community resource development committees, and the ECOP-CRD/PA subcommittee potential areas for program development and evaluation. --To seek out possible sources of private or public funding support for development of the network. . Southern representatives on the task force are Dr. BD b Soi leau of uisiana State University and Mr. Ron Williams of Kentucky State U iversity. Mr. Williams serves as chairman. . . 16. Arkansas Rural Crime In-Service Training- -Rural crime is big busi- ness in Arkansas with livestock theft in the state equivalent on,a per capita basis with livestock theft in Texas. Other Arkansas farm and rural non-farm crimes also rank high in crime statistical catego- ries. The Arkansas CRD faculty conducted, atone-day, inclepth crime prevention training program for county faculty. To enhanCe the program's quality, the SRDC paid the expenses of Dr. Joseph F. Donnermeyer of the National Rural Crime Prevention Center to attend the training program' as a featured speaker. Dr. Donnermeyer reported on current research suggestions about rural-farm/ndn-farm crime, the status of crime prevention work in other states, and current feelings among extension directors about rural crime preven- tion work. . 17, National Symposium of) .Local Infrastructure I nvestment Decisions- -The Center director attdfided this sympctsium til 17-19 in Arlington, Virginia, as a means of familiarizing'himsel with local government infrastructure needs and with extension efforts to meet those needs. The conference was sponsored by Federal Extension. 18. Southern Natural Resource Economics Committee Meeting- -The semi- annual meeting of this group was held May 16-17 at the University of Kentucky to discuss managing exhaustible resources. The Center director attended the meeting and the SRDC will cooperate with the Farm Foundation ,in publishing the prqceedings. 19. Southern Regional Information Exchange Group (SRIEG-7) MeetirlgThe Center director attended the annual meeting of this group ikWash- ington, D.C., May 21-23. The program dealt with a research agen- da for rural sociologists. 20. SEPAC Meeting--The Center director attended, the annual meeting of the Southern Extension Public Affairs CommitThe June 18-21 in Clearwater, Florida. The SRDC will cooperate with SEPAC and the Southern Forestry Economics Workers in sponsoring a regional for- estry'workshop tliscuss forestry policy issues. 15 F. 14 c 12 21. ECOP Local Government Education.Task Force Report- -The SRDC is cooperating with the other centers in providing a published tabloid highlighting Extension local government education issues -and pro- grams as we as findings and recommendations from the ECOP Task Force. 22. Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Southern Growth Policies Board--The SRDC is an associate member of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Dr. Brodnax traveled to Atlanta June 26-28 to attend the annual meeting of the Board. The meeting emphatized the changing business climate of the South. 23. Southern Regional Extension Directors' Meeting--Dr. Brodnax attend- ed a meeting of the Southern Regional Extension Directors August 12-15 in Oklahoma City and presented a, report of the 1984-85 activi- ties of the Southern Center. 24. Southern Experiment Station Directors' Meeting--Dr. Brodnax atterf ed a meeting of the Southern Experiment Station Directors in At Ian a August 6-7 and presented a report of the 1984-85 activities of the Southern Center. . INFORMATION DISSEMINATION Recording and.disseminating what is taking place and what is being established .in rupl development throughout the region and nation is ,one of the priorities/of the Center. One way this task is accomplished is through a constant publishing effort including the following: 1 SRDC Newsletterr7CAPSULES is intended as a regional newsletter designed to disseminate information in brief form. Each monthly issue of the newsletter is sent to more than 1,600 persons involved in community developinentv civic improvement, recreation, planning, government, education and a variety of organizations and.agencies working in rural development. , 3. Computer NewsletterCOMPUTER BITS AND BYTES is a quarterly newsletter that highlights new developments in the area of electronic technology as applied to community development efforts. Each issue is sent to 'More than 1,600. persons involved in community develop, ment, civic improvement, recreation, planning, government education and a variety of organizations and agencies working in rural development. SRDC Update--The first issue of this publication was distributed in May' as a means of briefly summarizing the Center's activities and reporting these activities to the state extension and experiment station directors. The two-page summary will be printed and mailed as time permits. 4. Training Manuals fo,r Rural Officials--The.Federal Extension Service has asked the Center to reprint the eight rural government training manuals initially printed last year in cooperation with the USDA and the Rural Governments Coalition. Nearly 500 copies of each magazine 16( jl 13 have been reprinted for distribution to various state and federal agencies and several state Extension Services_ 5. Reprints- -The Center reprinted 100 copies of Toward an American Rural Renaissance after the response to tine initial publication was greater than expected. Arkansas requested 25 additional copies to use as a text in its Kellogg-supported rural leadership program. The Center also 'reprinted 200 copies of the promotional brochure for How to Select and Use Computers in Local Government. These were requested for distribution at the national county clerks association meeting in Illinois. The Center also reprinted 150 copies of selected portions of the Rural Development Training Packet upon -request from Florida Extension and 200 copies upon request from South Carolina Extension. 6. Conference Materials--Since the SRDC uses workshops and confer- ences.as an integral part of its program, some staff time must be devoted to preparation and printing of such conference materials as pre-conference advertising brochures, programs, nametags, banquet tickets, registration folders, press kits, etc. ,7. Other Publications-- a. 1984 Progress Report b. Toward an American Rural Renaissance, Feb. 1985 c. Farmland Retention in the Southeast, June 1985 (Proceedings of March 22-23, 1984, conference) d. Fundamentals 8-f Business: An Instructor's Guidebook for Providing Sm'all Business Management Training, June 985 e. The Political Economy of Natural Resource and Environmental ,Use, June 1985 (Proceedings of an Oct. 18, 1984. SNREC meeting) f. 1985 Progress Report 4 17 BEST COPY A LADLE The SRDC is one of four regional rural development centers in the nation. It coordinates cooperation between the .Research (Experiment Station) arid Extension (Cooperative Extension Service) staffs at land-grant institutions in the South to provide tech- nical coMultation, research, training, and evaluation services for rural development. This publication is one of several published by the Center on various needs, program thrusts, and research efforts in rural develop- ment. For more information about SRDC activities and publications, write to the Director. Southern Rural Development Center .P.;:x 5406 Mississippi State, MS 39762 The Southern Rural Development Center is an Equal Opportunity Organization providing researzh, educationai intormation, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race. color, sex or national origin. SRDC is an Ewa' Oc.nortunity Employer. SR DC Series No. 80 18 September 1985