Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Londo, Andrew J.

Committee Member

Gordon, Jason S.

Committee Member

Munn, Ian A.

Date of Degree

12-14-2013

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Forestry

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Forestry

Abstract

Extension professionals are faced with the challenge of effectively communicating relevant information to an evolving audience with diverse interests. This study utilized mixed methodologies to highlight specific educational programming needs of nonindustrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) in Mississippi. Ten landowner focus groups were conducted during January 2012, followed one year later by the mailing of 3,000 survey questionnaires to Mississippi NIPFs owning 20 or more acres of uncultivated land. Findings indicated NIPFs are more likely to adopt new ideas if educational programming is tailored to their specific needs, indicating the need to group the audience by their interests. In particular, findings showed an increasing need for educational resources, particularly regarding succession management and estate planning. Eighty percent of respondents indicated passing land to heirs was an important or very important reason for land ownership. Results also emphasized the importance of employing new technology as a means for communicating more efficiently.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20354

Comments

intergenerational transfer||NIPF landowners||estate planning||forestry||Extension

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