Rose Kre bill-Pr a t herA probit model is used to quantify factors influencing the probability that a selected group of agricultural decision makers (producers and landowners receiving crops from a share lease) used futures or options for commodity marketing during the 1986, 1987, or 1988 marketing years. Respondents were selected from participants in orientation sessions associated with the nationwide Futures and Option Marketing Pilot Program. Results suggest previous use of cash forward contracts, location, size and farming operation (measured by gross farm sales), having a college degree(s), and membership in a marketing club have the greatest impact on the probability of using futures and options.Effective commodity marketing at the farm level has received increasing attention over the past two decades. Periods of heightened commodity price volatility, greater exposure to world supply and demand conditions, a more market-oriented farm policy, and periods of farm financial stress have all contributed to this additional focus. This increasing emphasis on marketing has drawn attention to Research for this article was conducted under projects K149 and H896 of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. Financial support was provided under Cooperative Agreement number 89-EXCA-3-0988 with the Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The authors express appreciation for the helpful comments provided by anonymous journal reviewers.

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standing of growers' pest management decision-making processes. With this understanding, we will be better able to direct extension efforts to promote the inclusion of rational decision-making in the choice of pesticides, the increased use of reduced-risk pesticides, and the greater acceptance of biologically intensive practices by growers. Establishing baseline IPM usageUC IPM selected two cropping systems in California to begin establishing baseline IPM usage data and examine growers' decision-making criteria. Almonds (Brodt et al. 2005) and cotton were chosen because of their extensive acreage, use of certain high-risk pesticides and long history of UC IPM efforts in promoting IPM. This article reports on results from the cotton survey conducted in 2000 and highlights selected results from the almond survey for comparison. The purpose of both surveys was to assess pest management strategies used by growers; pest management decision-making, including knowledge sources for IPM; and grower familiarity with and attitudes about IPM, as well as other general farm characteristics. RESEARCH ARTIClEt mately 70% of U.S. farmland by 2000, much of this perceived progress could be attributed to rudimentary monitoring and prevention practices. More significant practices, such as biologically based pest control methods, had been adopted on as little as 3% and up to 47% of cropland, depending on the crop.UC IPM was established in 1979 to develop and promote the use of IPM throughout California. The program uses federal Smith-Lever 3(d) funding for IPM extension and outreach, and therefore is required by the Government Results and Performance Act of 1993 to establish methods for reporting program accountability and performance. To meet the requirements of this legislation, the national IPM program requested that UC IPM develop baseline measurements of IPM usage so that future progress could be measured.Beyond collecting data for reporting purposes, information about IPM adoption will help to address growing public concern about the implications of pesticide use on the environment and human health, and the increasing consumer demand for lower-risk pesticides on food and fiber crops. These demands can only be met by improving our under-

In this mixture of oat and alfalfa In Lassen County, the oats were allowed to partially mature since the hay was sold to the horse market, where some oat grain is desirable. Oats were broadcast in this established alfalfa field and the area disked to bury the seed. The oats emerging in the open gaps prevent weeds from filling In.