PUBr.IC INFORMATION - Janet Christensen 



In a state where the vast majority of residents do not live in the midst 

 of a farming community, the public information program helps "build a constituency" 

 for local agriculture as well as advise farmers about Departmental programs. 



The better informed the oublic is about the current farm situation and the 

 industry, the greater the likelihood of understanding and support for the various 

 activities aimed toward boosting local agricultural production. 



In an urban state such as Massachusetts, for example, protecting farmland 

 from commercial development is essential and related efforts such as the Agricultural 

 Preservation Restriction Program can benefit from wide public exposure. 



News releases and publications of the Department also aim to increase the 

 demand for local farm products so that farmers will be encouraged to grow more, 

 not less. Information about what's in season and where it's available is 

 offered to food editors, radio and TV stations. Also, a series of brochures about 

 local crops, their nutritional value and uses has been widely distributed to the 

 press and at roadside farm stands and farmers markets across the state. 



Other topics covered in news releases include community gardening, fairs and 

 various Departmental activities and agricultural events. This year the Pesticide 

 Bureau of the Department initiated a "Pesticide Information Center" and the public 

 information office has cooperated with the Bureau in its effort to better inform 

 the public about all aspects of pesticides and current issues such as gypsy moths, 

 mosquito control and the use of herbicides on rights-of-way. 



This office also coordinated press activities for the National Association 

 of State Departments of Agriculture during its 1981 annual fall meeting in Boston 

 and hosted the concurrent annual meeting of the Communications Officers of State 

 Departments of Agriculture. 



Credit is due to the outstanding assistance offered through student internships 

 from Simmons College, Framingham State College and the University of Massachusetts 

 at Amherst. The enthusiastic help of several students from these schools this 

 past year was indispensable to the completion of a wide variety of public information 

 projects. 



Farmers markets continued to be one of the media's favorite agricultural 

 topics. This year the listing of markets across the state tallied to a total of 

 forty-six, a significant growth from the 1976 listing of seven locations. The 

 public information officer serves on the board of the Massachusetts Federation of 

 Farmers Markets and assists in the publication of the Federation newsletter. 



Direct marketing grants , made possible by funding to the state from the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture, were also publicized by this office. Awarded during 

 a visit to Massachusetts by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block, the 

 grants were made to "foster innovations in increasing the marketing of farm products 

 directly from farmers to local institutions, supermarkets, grocery stores and 

 other retail outlets". The matching grants totaling ?40,000 were made to twelve 

 local businesses and associations. 



58 



