The cost of continuing to support this program on a full time basis is $53,410/year–less than $1,000 for each of the 58 contributing Land Grant Institutions.

View this PowerPoint slideshow for an update on the status and success of the National Multistate Research Fund Impact Writing Project.

This report was developed by the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice and BioDimensions for the universities in the southern region:

Auburn University • Clemson University • Louisiana State University • Mississippi State University • North Carolina State University • Oklahoma State University • Texas A&M University • University of Arkansas • University of Florida • University of Georgia • University of Kentucky • University of Puerto Rico • University of Tennessee • University of the
Virgin Islands • Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Click here to read or download the full report.

Background on the Impact Reporting Effort

Effective communications of research outcomes is crucial to maintaining as well as building support for such programs. In order to effectively communicate impacts and outcomes of the multistate research program in each region, the NSRP001 Management Committee committed funds to support the hiring of a professional writer to prepare impact statements for all terminating multistate research/coordination projects, including NRSPs, to communicate the importance of Land Grant Universities and the funding required to sustain and grow the Agricultural Experiment Stations and Extension to the general electorate and influential leaders of America and American agriculture.

Since July 2012, the impact writer has designed a template for publishing Impact Statements that is visually appealing and facilitates comprehension, completed 42 impact statements for Multistate Research and National Research Support Projects that terminated in 2011 and 2012, helped to develop an archiving system for impact statements in NIMSS, and written several press releases and stories for the media to promote key outcomes and milestones reached by multistate research project teams. Completed impact statements are now regularly published on regional website and are promoted by AgIsAmerica via their web page (www.AgIsAmerica.org) and social media.

Jianli Chen stands in fields of University of Idaho varieties. Most Western states test new wheat varieties during on-farm trials to determine how they are affected by environmental conditions and how well they could adapt to different farm settings. Photo by Cindy Snyder.

Who cares and why?

There are many varieties of wheat, each with unique traits that influence its quality and how it can be used. Because they have diverse uses  for wheat, different industrial partners prefer specific varieties. In the Pacific Northwest (PNW), about 85% of the wheat is exported, mostly  o Asian and Middle Eastern countries where it is made into noodles, cookies, steamed breads, flat breads and other similar  products. The total market value of U.S. wheat exported to Asian countries alone is estimated at over $400 million per year; however,  exports have been declining over the last 20 years because of increased competition from Australia, Canada and eastern European  countries. In order to remain competitive, PNW producers need to be continually improving overall grain quality and developing innovative  wheat varieties. This requires a clear understanding of how wheat quality is affected by genetics and agricultural practices, such  as tilling, fertilizing, and processing. The farming community and wheat industries must collaborate to set quality standards and make sure  that technologies and practices protect wheat quality. If wheat quality is not improved, U.S. wheat producers will not be able to provide a steady supply of high quality wheat for industrial partners and consumers.

Bon Lee conducts bread baking tests in the Wheat Marketing Center lab. Measurements of texture and other qualities tell wheat breeders and industrial partners which wheat varieties are best suited for baking. Photo by Andrew Ross.

What has the project done so far?

This project has created a multidisciplinary committee that has shared wheat quality information among growers, researchers, and  industrial partners. Using standardized testing methods that they developed, WERA-1009 scientists have evaluated wheat quality and  measured how it is affected by specific plant genes, environmental factors, and grower practices. Over the last five years, the group has  developed and released a number of unique new varieties of spring and winter wheat that have been top-yielding and have demonstrated  excellent pest resistance, extreme weather tolerance, and desirable traits, such as better coloration and softness. Many of these varieties  have become the most planted wheat varieties in western states. For their accomplishments, WERA-1009 received the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors Award of Excellence in Multistate Research in 2012.

Impact Statements:

• Engaged scientists and domestic and foreign industrial partners in research and development that led to improved wheat quality.
• Reduced  economic losses due to poor crop yield and/or quality and enhanced wheat production’s resilience to climate change by developing and  releasing new wheat varieties that are high yielding, drought tolerant, disease resistant, and/or have desirable traits for diverse uses.
• Improved farmers’ understanding of how their agricultural practices impact the ways their wheat crops can be used, thus helping them  select higher quality varieties, use best management practices, and ultimately earn more for their crops.
• Promoted domestic and  international wheat trade by using knowledge about the quality and uses of different wheat varieties to predict how they will behave  in  markets and by increasing the overall acreage of valuable wheat varieties across the western region.

With the exception of soft red wheat, all classes of wheat are grown in the Western region. Photo by Rob Valkass, Flickr.

What research is needed?

Environmental conditions are constantly changing, as are customer needs. The median income level of Asian and Middle Eastern countries  is increasing, which translates into increased demand for existing and new wheat products. Additional research on the genetics and  environmental factors that affect wheat quality is needed so that the wheat industry can continue to adapt to climate change, new pests and  changing customer needs. All western states are encouraged to participate in wheat breeding and testing programs. There is also need to  begin investigating how different qualities of wheat affect human health.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisors: Russ Karow and Bill Boggess.

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and  education Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary research on critical  issues that have a national or regional priority. For more information, visit http://www.waaesd.org/.

Who cares and why?

A graduate student working with a WERA-060 scientist samples plants for pesticide-resistant gummy stem blight. Photo courtesy of Katherine Stevenson, University of Georgia.

Pesticides are important tools used in managing pest populations; however, some individual pest organisms are naturally resistant to  pesticides. These resistant individuals survive and reproduce, passing on genetic resistance to generation after generation until most of the  population is resistant and certain pesticides are no longer effective. In recent years, use of conventionally applied herbicides, fungicides,  and insecticides has increased significantly and pesticide resistance has multiplied rapidly. In addition, some insect pests have developed  resistance to insecticidal proteins that are expressed in genetically modified plants. When resistance develops and commonly-used  pesticides fail to control pest populations, damage to crops, property, and landscapes intensifies and costs skyrocket. For example, cotton  growers in the southeastern U.S. face serious crop losses due to weeds that are resistant to the commonly-used pesticide, RoundUp®.  Soybeans, rice, and other crops are expected to face similar problems soon. Pesticide resistance often leads to overuse or misuse of pesticides, risking harm to the environment and public health and making the crops less desirable to certain markets and consumers.  Quickly and successfully addressing pesticide resistance requires the work of scientists from many disciplines and up-to-date information. Managing pesticide resistance also relies on persistent monitoring and consistent, effective strategies in the field. Better management of  pesticide resistance will lead to improved protection from pests, a more stable supply of quality crops for consumers, better profits for  growers, and healthier humans, animals, and environments.

In the lab, tests revealed that the gummy stem blight is resistant to multiple types of pesticides. The gummy stem blight samples that are resistant to pesticides continued to grow in the petri dishes. Chart courtesy of Katherine Stevenson, University of Georgia.

What has the project done so far?

Over the past five years, WERA-060 researchers and extension specialists have worked with industry representatives and government  regulators to develop resources, tools, and methods for managing pesticide resistance. Researchers have detected resistance in a wide  variety of pests—including insect pests, plant pathogens, and weeds in cotton, peanut, corn, squash, and melon—and have described how  resistance develops in many situations. Scientists have also developed guidelines for preventing pesticide overuse and misuse and have  evaluated how well new pesticides control pests and how quickly, if ever, pests develop resistance. Other studies have determined how new  pesticides impact non-target species and the economy and how well they are accepted by users and communities. In addition, researchers  have investigated how to block the genes and specific mutations that cause pesticide resistance. To share research findings, the group has  organized symposia about pesticide resistance management, produced over 20 educational videos (http://ag.arizona.edu/crops/vegetables /videos.html), revised and expanded training programs, delivered updates to farmers via web, email, and smart phone  (http://ag.arizona.edu/crops/vegetables/advisories/advisories.html), organized online databases, and distributed newsletters.

Impact Statements:

• 

  Even though many kochia plants— highly invasive weeds—were killed by RoundUp® treatments, a track of healthy kochia plants grew in the field above when a a single RoundUp®-resistant plant shed its seed as it tumbled across the field in the wind. Photo by Andrew Wiersma, Colorado State University.

  Advanced data, tools, and strategies for preventing or delaying the evolution of pesticide resistance in pest populations by enabling   cooperative research and extension.

• Helped farmers, pesticide manufacturers, and regulators make more economically and environmentally sustainable decisions by sharing data, tools, and recommendations.
• Helped users choose and apply pesticides properly by  developing and updating management guidelines. Proper pesticide use prevents resistance build up, reduces damage from pests, saves time and money, minimizes pollution, and lowers health risks.
• Detected new cases of pesticide resistance, getting the upper hand on these cases  before they cause serious problems.
• Made it easier to monitor pesticide resistance by creating the Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database  (APRD), which has encouraged online pesticide resistance case reporting and has become the most complete database on resistant  organisms in the world. Pest managers, industry specialists, researchers, the EPA, and the EU use the database to support pesticide   registration and decisions about managing cases of pesticide resistance.

What research is needed?

Along with weeds, plant pathogens can also develop resistance to pesticides. For example, fungicide-resistant powdery mildew can severely damage pumpkin crops. Photo by Meg McGrath, Cornell University.

There is a critical need for scientists to quickly develop ways to combat pesticide resistance and to work with policymakers to set guidelines  for using and enforcing these tactics. RoundUp®-resistant weeds and Neonicotinoid-resistant insects are of immediate importance. In  general, research is needed to better understand the biology and genetics that underlies pesticide resistance and to ensure more precise and accurate predictions about when and where pesticide resistance may develop.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisors: Tom Holtzer  and Lee E. Sommers.

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and  education Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary research on critical  issues that have a national or regional priority. For more information, visit http://www.waaesd.org/. 

Salmon is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, bioactive chemicals that promote cardiac health (photo by Andrea Pokrzywinski).

Who cares and why?

Bioactive chemicals can be found naturally in foods or introduced during food processing. These chemicals can have both beneficial and undesirable  effects on human health. For example, certain fungal compounds found in corn, ground nuts, and tree nuts can damage DNA and promote cancer.  Conversely, omega-3 fatty acids produced by plants and algae and concentrated in certain fish species can promote cardiac health. In recent years,  the herbal products and food supplement industry, valued at an estimated $20 billion per year in the U.S., has taken off. Effective products could  reduce medical costs and provide farmers with new specialty crop opportunities; however, inadequate quality control and understanding of  potential toxicity could allow harmful substances to enter the food supply. Therefore, understanding the complex relationship between bioactive  dietary chemicals and human health is a paramount concern to consumers, agricultural producers, food processors, health professionals, and policymakers charged with maintaining a safe and nutritious food supply.

What has the project done so far?

Aspergillus species of fungi produce mold toxins that are potent carcinogens and can lead to serious human health problems when consumed (left photo courtesy of IITA). Another common fungal disease on corn ears, fusarium ear rot, can produce fumonisin, a mold toxin that is suspected to contribute to birth defects in Hispanic women who eat large amounts of corn (right photo by Thomas Lumpkin).

This multidisciplinary group of scientists from 15 U.S. universities and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service has been collaborating since 1971 to  improve food safety and human health worldwide. Their most recent efforts have investigated how food-borne bioactive chemicals can protect  against human diseases such as cancer, inflammation, birth defects, and microbial infections, as well as how food-borne toxins are created by  processing, preparation, and other post-harvest activities. Project scientists have also discovered bioactive chemicals that have adverse effects on  human health. Using this information, W-2122 researchers have developed approaches to increase beneficial—and decrease adverse—effects of  bioactive food chemicals and microbial contaminants. Research has also led to improved understanding of how changes to the human body’s natural  collection of bacteria and other microorganisms are related to chronic metabolic diseases. W-2122 extension experts have shared research results with stakeholders using multimedia materials.

Studies found that consuming dry bean or rice bran (the outer layer of the rice grain) increases beneficial bacteria that produce food for cells lining the colon, while also reducing the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause intestinal inflammation. Photo courtesy of Rob Qld, Flickr.

Impact Statements

• Shed light on possible dietary strategies for preventing and treating metabolic syndromes (including type 2 diabetes hypertension, high cholesterol,  and cardiovascular diseases) that afflict over 47 million Americans.
• Helped consumers make more informed, healthier choices about whether to take dietary supplements. For example, University of Illinois  researchers found that the estrogenlike compounds (isoflavones) in some soy supplements can stimulate growth of estrogen-dependent breast  cancer and can negate the effectiveness of breast cancer therapies (e.g., tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors), depending on dosage.
• Developed ways to increase beneficial effects of bioactive chemicals so they are more active but have fewer adverse side effects for consumers.
• Improved food safety by identifying how to prevent contamination from food-borne toxins during processing, preparation, and other post-harvest activities.
• Found ways to assess and reduce harmful levels of aflatoxin B1 (a carcinogenic mold toxin) in turkey and grain. This information helps ensure safe  food products for consumers and is useful in parts of Asia and Africa where 10% of adults may die of aflatoxin-related liver cancer.
• Advanced  strategies for protecting and treating individuals exposed to bioactive toxins through deliberate use in chemical terrorism or warfare or  natural contamination of foods.
• Saved taxpayers millions of dollars by simplifying risk assessments for fumonisin, a carcinogenic mold toxin.
• Characterized the fetus stage that is most susceptible to carcinogens to which the mother is exposed, leading to better prevention protocols for  pregnant women.

Other studies showed that bitter melon prevents obesity associated metabolic disorders like diabetes. Studies also linked the bioactive chemicals in bitter melon to improved glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. Bitter melon is widely cultivated throughout the year in Asia, eastern Africa, and South America and is used extensively in folk medicines. Thus, it provides a cost-effective treatment or preventive strategy that is widely acceptable, especially among culturally sensitive populations and developing nations. Photo courtesy of Lao Foods Flickr.

What research is needed?

Despite significant progress in this field, much remains unknown about the impact of bioactive dietary chemicals on human health and  food safety. Researchers are continuing to explore ways to increase the beneficial impacts and minimize the risks of bioactive dietary  chemicals. Continued collaboration and communication of results among consumers, agricultural producers, food processors, health  professionals, and policy makers is needed to maintain food safety and improve human health worldwide.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisor: H. Michael Harrington

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education  Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary research on critical issues that have a  national or regional priority. For more information, visit http://www.waaesd.org/.

Obion thrips that are infected with the virus transmit it to onion plants when the feed on the plants. IYSV weakens onion plants and reduced bulb size and seed yield. Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University.

Onion is an important crop in the U.S., generating over $900 million annually in farm receipts from 2005 to 2010. Western states cultivate 54,000 hectares (nearly 80% of all U.S. summer production) and produce a large portion of the world  supply of onion seed. Onion thrips, an insect that feeds on onion plant leaves, is the most serious pest of onion worldwide.  It has become an even greater threat as a vector of Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), a devastating new onion disease. The projected economic impacts of IYSV and its insect vector in the U.S. total $60 to 90 million; increased pesticide use adds  $7.5 to 12.5 million to pest control costs as well as environmental costs that are difficult to measure. Integrated Pest  Management (IPM) strategies are needed to deal with these immediate and serious threats; however, much is still unknown  bout IYSV and thrips. Lacking knowledge and resources, growers  in the western U.S. currently rely on insecticides for thrips management even though insecticide resistance problems have been reported for over 15 years. As pest populations and disease outbreaks spread rapidly around the world, scientists must develop IPM strategies that  include pest-tolerant and disease-resistant onion varieties, biological control options, and modified farming practices in  order to ensure economically and environmentally sustainable onion production.

Lesions like these on onion plant stalks and leaves are signs of IYSV infection (Photo by Howeard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University).

What has the project done so far?

W-1008 scientists and Extension specialists have partnered with industry representatives to identify onion varieties that are genetically  improved to better tolerate damage from thrips and to successfully resist IYSV. Project scientists have investigated the biology and  epidemiology of IYSV and thrips and have evaluated how well chemical, cultural, and biological tactics reduce their negative effects on  onion crops. To share information on IYSV and thrips biology and IPM strategies, the group has held field days and meetings for growers,   managed web sites (http://www.alliumnet.com/index.htm), and shared findings and recommendations in Onion World magazine and Extension publications, including brochures on how to identify pests and diseases and how to minimize IYSV through irrigation  management.

Impact Statements

• Helped growers, breeders, and IPM specialists select effective management strategies including using pest-tolerant and disease-resistant  onion varieties.
• Identified new, selective insecticides and application methods that were adopted by growers. These methods control onion thrips, decrease  the frequency of sprays per season, reduce costs, and limit the threat of insecticide resistance.
• Increased knowledge of IYSV transmission, convincing growers to stop planting overwintering onions and to properly dispose of cull  onions. By keeping IYSV pressure from carrying over into the next season, growers benefit from higher yields and reduced costs. Growers  in the Idaho-Oregon Treasure Valley who destroyed onion culls and planted overwintering fields farther from summer fields saw IYSV  infestation levels decline.
• Recommended drip irrigation and careful irrigation scheduling that growers have adopted, resulting in fewer losses from IYSV.
• Encouraged  growers to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer they apply to onions, helping to reduce thrips populations, fertilizer costs,  and potential problems associated with nitrogen in the environment. In Utah, growers using this low-nitrogen input system saved nearly  $200 per acre.

W-1008 researchers discovered new leads for developing thrips-tolerant onion varieties. For example, research has shown that plants with yellow-green leaf color (and less waxy leaves) also had lower densities of thrips and less feeding damage compared to plants with blue-green leaf color. Photo by LadyFox, Flickr.

What research is needed?

Scientists need additional resources to bring promising experimental onion varieties into commercial cultivation. Insecticide use needs to  be optimized so that farmers can successfully control thrips and IYSV without raising costs or fostering insecticide resistance. Genetic  diversity studies of IYSV would help scientists better understand the introduction, spread, and evolution of the virus and how it impacts  different types of production systems. Improved precision and reliability of IYSV detection techniques is also needed. In addition, further  research is needed to understand the role of weed species as hosts for IYSV and thrips. In general, scientists need to continue to coordinate  research and prepare solutions for new pest threats.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisor: Lee E. Sommers

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate,  multidisciplinary research on critical issues that have a national or regional priority. For more information, visit  http://www.waaesd.org/.

Potatos infected with zebra chip develop unsightly dark lines that resemble the stripes of a zebra.

Who cares and why?

Virus and virus-like diseases in potatoes in the western U.S. create a costly situation requiring limited-generation seed programs and the  use of multiple pesticides to minimize yield and quality losses in commercial crops. Substantial yield losses and rejections of seed lots for  certification have resulted in tremendous dollar losses to growers. Public and environmental concerns surround the use of pesticides on  potatoes. In addition, potato growers face potential registration cancellation of key pesticides and the difficulties of developing new  information for re-registration or development of new pesticides. Pest resistance to current pesticides is always of concern. Loss of  pesticides or pesticide effectiveness will increase yield and quality losses if alternative solutions are not developed. This group provides a  regional forum for collaboration among potato virus disease researchers and the dissemination of information on control strategies. The  group also advises regional and national organizations, evaluating concerns, recommending policies, and reviewing quarantine and seed  certification issues with the goal to improve plant health and crop sustainability.

The potato plant leaf on the left shows symptoms of potato virus Y infection compared to the healthy leaf on the right. Photo courtesy of Southern IPM Center.

What has the project done so far?

• Members have organized annual meetings to discuss current concerns regarding virus and virus-like diseases occurring in potato crops.  This forum has also included presentations of ongoing research on potato viruses and virus-like diseases, their vectors, and alternate hosts.  In addition, participants have considered research priorities for upcoming years. Sub-groups have been formed to work on specific projects  throughout the year, including development of educational materials, presentations, and reference sheets.
• Impact Statements:
• Helped to prevent disease spread and serious damage by responding to reported findings of viruses (including new and uncommon strains)  in potato fields, quickly diagnosing the problem, and implementing the appropriate control tactics.
• Characterized new strains of  potato virus Y (PVY) and assessed the impact of infection by these different strains of PVY on the yield and quality of potato varieties.
• Identified the components of the tuber necrotic complex and developed new diagnostic tools that allow heightened confidence that potato  seed with internal necrosis due to PVY will not be used for planting commercial potatoes. The PVY survey and the Canadian quality  assurance survey have provided additional information about the health status of potato seed.
• Found that hairy nightshade is a significant source of potato virus and the aphids which can transmit the disease, leading to new potato disease control strategies that include  managing the various hosts and vectors of PVY.
• Determined that younger plants are more susceptible to the potato purple top disease,  giving potato growers in the Pacific Northwest much-needed information for using timely and appropriate insecticide applications to  control the beet leafhopper insect that carries the disease, thereby preventing yield losses and reductions in potato processing quality.
• Discovered that zebra chip, a new and damaging potato disease in the southwestern and central U.S., Mexico, Central America, and New  Zealand, is associated with a previously undescribed species of the bacterium Liberibacter and is transmitted by potato psyllid insects. Development of effective management strategies for the potato psyllid is under way to minimize damage caused by this potato disease.

Potato plants showing symptoms of potato virus Y infection. Photo by Nina Zidack/Montana State University.

What research is needed?

To improve long-term plant health and crop sustainability, scientists must continue to provide a regional forum for the exchange of ideas  and collaborative research on potato virus and viruslike diseases. Scientists need to continue to assist with the implementation of  knowledge, methods, and resources that control potato virus and viruslike diseases. Furthermore, scientists need to share research results  and advise regional and national organizations and help them evaluate concerns, review quarantine and seed certification issues, and develop policies that relate to potato viruses or virus-like organisms and their control.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisor: Donn Thill, dthill@uidaho.edu

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary research on critical issues that have a national or regional priority. For more information, visit http://www.waaesd.org/.

Who cares and why?

Women comprised 49 percent of the U.S. workforce in 2003. Three critical but understudied subpopulations in the workforce include: female ranchers and farmers, female professionals, and female immigrants. In the last 25 years, the percentage of all U.S. farmers who are women more than doubled, rising to over 11 percent.  Around 55 percent of all professional workers in the U.S. are female, and in 2001, over half of the more than 1  million immigrants admitted to the U.S. were female. While they play an increasingly vital economic role in  their communities, these groups lack role models and social and career blueprints and must forge unique  pathways toward fulfillment in their work, family, and personal lives. Relying on popular and local media for  guidance, working women often confront stereotypical portrayals of women. It is unknown whether the  messages embedded in popular and local media are applicable or helpful to these three groups of women. This  project sought to 1) identify the questions, challenges, and needs of the three target populations related to  work, family, and personal lives; 2) determine the media messages they receive regarding these arenas; and 3)  assess the extent to which these messages help or hurt in the struggle to achieve healthy work, family, and  personal lives. This research provides a better understanding of how to support these traditionally underserved  populations of women who have a high intensity of commitment to their jobs and careers and are playing  increasingly vital economic roles in their communities.

What has the project done so far?

Project participants have facilitated more than 20 focus groups with approximately 175 subjects total. With  these focus groups, W-1167 researchers have been able to look at the types and amount of media the women  view, what household and professional roles they play, the issues and challenges they face, and the ways they  define personal fulfillment. The focus groups have helped researchers examine patterns among women who  have different types of employment, communities, and ethnicities. The team has presented their research at  professional conferences, published journal articles and a book chapter, and shared data with legislative  groups.

Female immigrants often play vital roles in their communities’ economies. This woman attends a New Citizens Celebration with the Fleets and Facilities Department of Seattle. Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives.

Impact Statements:

• Improved understanding of work-family variables, helping researchers determine effective ways to measure  and examine the experiences of women in the target groups.
• Recommended research-based strategies that help  omen in the three target groups effectively address the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal  time, such as improving financial resources, seeking family-friendly policies in the workplace, and finding support from family, friends, and online resources.
• Provided practical information to corporate decision  makers (e.g., in human resource departments) who develop and implement workplace policies that impact  families.
• Provided information to service providers such as counselors, therapists, educators, and Extension personnel who work with the target populations of women so that they can develop more effective intervention  strategies and more successfully address challenges.

What research is needed?

The information about balancing work, family, and personal time that evolved from this qualitative research needs to be developed into  hypotheses and quantitatively tested for further validation of the findings.

Want to know more?

Download the printable PDF!

Administrative Advisor: Jim Christenson, jimc@ag.arizona.edu

This project was supported by the Multistate Research Fund (MRF) established in 1998 by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and  education Reform Act (an amendment to the Hatch Act of 1888) to encourage and enhance multistate, multidisciplinary research on critical issues that have a national or regional priority. For more information, visit http://www.waaesd.org/.