AgInfo News: Agricultural extension using the Web

An article by John G. Schmitz at the University of Illinois provides a very useful overview of 'web-based extension.' Drawing on experiences from the USA, he provides recommendations to help organizations quicken their transition to web-based delivery, discusses some trends in web-based extension, and lists some key policy issues that impact web-based extension.
Among his recommendations are:

Content is King
Create an Online Crop Bulletin
Post Handbooks for Farmers
Don't Re-invent the Wheel
Plan for Convergence of Media and Reusability of Content
Adopt Web Standards
Create both National and Regional Portals
Try Web Delivery of Traditional Programs
Require Extension Staff to Produce and Post Content
Train Extension Staff to use the Web

His four main policy challanges are:

Collaboration between Content-Providers: extension services around the world will better reach and help farmers if government, NGOs and Agribusiness collaborate to contribute content.
Open Content: What are still needed are the policies that will draw domestic and international content-providers together to set up searchable open content respositories and digital libraries for agriculture.
Infrastructure for Web Delivery to Rural Areas: Creative, coordinated funding is needed to explore and jump-start web technologies to connect the rural world.
Coordination between Funding Agencies: Agencies that fund agricultural extension and related missions must better coordinate their efforts. Examples of successful coordination are there, but many times reported collaborations do not appear substantial.