Extension Education

Commentary on Extension Programming: An Online Platform for Area-Wide Management of Western X-Disease Extension Program

Khashi Ghorbani(a), Shady S. Atallah(a) and R. Karina Gallardo(b)
(a)University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, (b)Washington State University

JEL Codes: JEL Codes: A30, Q16, Q57
Keywords: Area-wide pest and disease management, decision aid tool, Extension services evaluation

First Published Online: July 16, 2025

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Abstract

The Extension program discussed in this commentary article was developed using a logic model to provide an economic analysis of Western-X disease (WXD) management at the farm and landscape levels. This program entered the Graduate Student Extension Competition organized by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA). It consisted of a simulated presentation to sweet cherry growers on the economics of tree removal as a disease management practice. The program’s delivery and communication strategies include an online platform, fact sheets, research articles, conference presentations, and workshops. This commentary shows how young professionals can create a successful program using a logic model.

About the Authors: Khashi Ghorbani is a PhD Student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Corresponding Author Email: kg26@illinois.edu). Shady S. Atallah is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. R. Karina Gallardo is a Professor at Washington State University.

Acknowledgments: We thank Dr. Scott Harper for providing invaluable comments. Also, we thank the 2024 AAEA Extension section committee, participants, and judges for their insightful feedback. This commentary is based on the material submitted to the 2024 AAEA graduate Extension competition. A copy of the original proposal and presentation slides are available as supplementary materials to this paper. This material was made possible, in part, by a cooperative agreement from the USDA APHIS. It may not necessarily express APHIS’s views.

References

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DuPont, T., A.T. Marshall, W.R. Cooper, C.F. Serban, B.V. Sallato, S.J. Harper, and T.D. Northfield. 2024. X-disease phytoplasma (Western X). https://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/disease-management/western-x/.

Faust, R.M. 2008. “General Introduction to Areawide Pest Management.ˮ Areawide Pest Management: Theory and Implementation, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845933722.0001.

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Israel, G.D. 2001. Using Logic Models for Program Development. University of Florida IFAS Extension (AEC360). Citeseer. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=de14edf50ba0c6e208849f143d6888b6389ce09 Lence, S.H., and A. Singerman. 2023. “When Does Voluntary Coordination Work? Evidence from Area‐Wide Pest Management.ˮ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 105(1):243–264.

Singerman, A., S.H. Lence, and P. Useche. 2017. “Is Area-Wide Pest Management Useful? The Case of Citrus Greening.ˮ Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 39(4):609–634. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppx030.

Singerman, A., and P. Useche. 2019. “The Role of Strategic Uncertainty in Area-Wide Pest Management Decisions of Florida Citrus Growers.ˮ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 101(4):991–1011. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aaz006.

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