PUBLIC INFORMATION 

 Janet Christensen 



The public information program for the Department covered a wide variety of 

 topics and issues this year relating to the Department and other state agencies. 



One of the most important in terms of its potential long range impact is 

 the "Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom" program. Initiated by this 

 Department, this innovative project is a cooperative one with the state Depart- 

 ment of Education, and the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension 

 Service, and it also includes representation from the Massachusetts Council for 

 Social Studies, the state Economic Education Council and other state and 

 regional agricultural organizations. 



A successful pilot field project last Spring will be followed up with par- 

 ticipation by as many as 100 schools this year. At present, there are four 

 Innovative curriculum units for students in grades four through six, and in the 

 future, it is hoped that there will be units for kindergarten through grade 

 twel ve . 



The project is part of a national task force established by the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture to encourage educational programs in each state. The 

 Massachusetts curriculum presently integrates agricultural themes and infor- 

 mation into four teacher resource activity units in the following areas: social 

 studies, science, nutrition and economics. 



Another unusual cooperative project in which the public information program 

 has been involved is a proposed regional TV series on small scale agriculture. 

 This is the outgrowth of the New England Governors Conference and the Eastern 

 Canadian Premiers Association subcommittee concerning small scale farming. A 

 pilot program has been produced which has been successfully reviewed by many 

 groups and broadcasters, and it is hoped that a series of twenty-six 30 minute 

 programs will be completed during the summer of 1985. 



As usual, the Department issued news releases on various events and topics. 

 Produce-in-season is highlighted in weekly news releases during the summer 

 months, and throughout the year various commodities are highlighted, e.g. dairy 

 products, maple syrup, Christmas trees and whatever is available that is 

 "Massachusetts grown and fresher!" 



Several new pamphlets were published, including various pick-your-own farm 

 lists, a guide to fresh produce on Cape Cod, and a new one on local vegetables 

 entitled, "For Those Who Don't Know Beans about Greens!" 



Plans were also made for publishing a new brochure called "A Consumer's 

 Guide to the Safe and Proper Use of Pesticides." 



The Public Information program was fortunate to have the services during 

 Spring semester of Maureen McCarthy, a nutrition communications graduate student 

 at Boston University. The program has also benefited greatly from the addition 

 of Diane Baedeker, a communications graduate of Simmons College. 



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