Competencies in Farm Credit Needed/Possessed by Members of the Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers Educational Association

Purpose. The purposes of this study were: (l) to determine the competencies related to farm credit needed by farmers and the degree of each competency needed for successful use of farm credit; (2) to determines the degree to which young farmers/ranchers possess the competencies related to farm credit; (3) to determine sources of training for these competencies; and (4) to provide information needed to plan an educational program that will enable farmers to use farm credit efficiently. Method. The Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers Educational Association members were surveyed directly through the use of a questionnaire, giving the members the opportunity to express the degree they needed or possessed the competencies in farm credit which were utilized for this study. The questionnaire was designed as a maì1-survey type of instrument. After the instrument was reviewed by staff members of the Agricultural Education Department and appropriate revisions were built into the final instrument, data were collected from a 22 percent random sample of the NYFREA members in the state of Nebraska. The data were then transferred to magnetic tape and processed by the electronic computer services (CMS) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to determine the frequency of responses, percentage of responses, means and standard deviations, and F-values and t-values for the sample. Findings. Based on the level of competencies possessed in farm credit by Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers members, the researcher concluded: l. Differences did exist with regard to the level of competence needed and possessed by the different age groups of the Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers members. 2. Differences did exist with regard to the level of competence needed and possessed by the Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers members with differing years of experience. 3. Differences did exist with regard to the level of competence needed and possessed.by the Nebraska Young Farmers/Ranchers members with different sizes (acres) of operation. 4. 0f the 43 competencies, 39 competencies were significantly different, indicating a great need for competence in farm credit