COVID-19 has put several businesses on hold, but the Extension services are still hard at work to bring information and help to the public through new online resources.

Robert T. Burns, dean and professor at the University of Tennessee Extension, said they are trying to reschedule as many meetings as they can, and they are moving some meetings and events to online platforms.

In-season research continues

Offices are still operational, but they're closed to the public.

"Our agents and staff are still working to handle questions and requests through phone and email," Burns said. "Many of our office workers are working from home, but fieldwork is still taking place. We are taking precautions and keeping a safe distance from each other while still getting the plots ready."

In-season trials provide important data for farmers.

"The UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center, which is where we conduct our soil analysis tests and make nutrient application recommendations to farmers, is continuing work," Burns said. "While the office is closed to the public, soil tests will be delivered through our normal channels, and we're continuing to analyze them because we see that as critical support to agricultural producers. Similarly, we're continuing to move ahead with planting our variety trials.

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"We are thinking through how to effectively pick up and deliver soil tests while still following the protocols to help flatten the curve."

Moving to online formats

"At UT Extension for our programs in Tennessee, we're trying to deliver as many programs as we can to online delivery or other alternative delivery methods," Burns said. "Rather than canceling meetings and events, we're rescheduling events we can't do online. For example, our State 4-H Congress was one of our biggest 4-H events, which was to take place in March, but we decided to reschedule it for August."

Staff members are sharing ideas on how to stay connected with the public through online resources. With interactive online platforms, such as webinars, Extension workers are keeping in touch with farmers to continue to deliver information and research.

"A few programs that would typically require face-to-face interaction, such as our horse judging program, we are putting online," he said. "Our equine specialist is developing a four-part webcast video series called Horse Judging from Home, designed for youth and adults. It will cover various aspects of horse judging and horsemanship."

The Master Gardener Program is also moving to online access through videos that cover 10 chapters of the Tennessee Master Gardener handbook. Normally, meetings are held at an Extension office or meeting location and have face-to-face lectures, and now, they have an online alternative.

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Adapting to new circumstances

Extension leadership is continuing to discuss how they can best serve the public during the pandemic.

"As we've transitioned from a public access operation to a closed-door operation, we're still conferring daily as a leadership team to have updates on what is working and what we can change. Was there something we didn't anticipate? How can we adjust it to make it work better to serve our clients?

"These are some questions we're keeping in mind to keep our staff and their families safe as well as the clients we serve. Meanwhile, from a national standpoint, we are trying to do our part to help slow the spread and flatten the curve while still serving the public."