What is the life cycle of an earthworm?
The earthworm life cycle begins when they hatch out of little egg sacs that can contain up to 5 baby worms. In 2-3 months the babies will develop their own reproductive structures, and they are usually fully grown within about a year. Longevity depends on the species, but one report on night crawlers stated that they can live up to 20 years!
How do you catch earthworms fast?
Method 2 of 3: Hunting for Worms at Night
- Place a large piece of wet cardboard on your lawn. Do this the night before your worm hunting. ...
- Assemble your tools. Earthworms spend their days burrowed underground in the soil, they surface at night in order to feed on organic matter.
- Prepare your worm container. ...
- Wait for the sun to set. ...
- Use your flashlight to look for worms. ...
- Look under the cardboard. ...
How to get worms to reproduce quickly?
- Watermelon rinds
- Cantaloupe rinds with chunks of the flesh
- Pumpkin skins and seeds
- Mango skins. Who doesn’t enjoy tropical island-style fruit?
- Over-ripe bananas. The soft, delicate flesh seems to draw the worms out to congregate!
- Avocado skins
- Corn cobs
How to grow your own earthworms?
- Dry oatmeal, or cornmeal.
- An organic source of moisture that is not likely to mold quickly. ...
- Three plastic containers with air-holes drilled in the tops.
- Several bits of cardboard in the form of egg cartons or used toilet paper rolls.
- Mealworms, also known as darkling beetle larva. You can start with anywhere from 500 to 1000.
How long does it take for earthworms to multiply?
Worms are ready to breed once they mature from 50 to 90 days. Earthworms are hermaphrodites; they can be male or female (a great advantage!). They can perform both male and female functions and mate every 7 to 10 days. The mating process takes around 24 hours.
How long is the life cycle of an earthworm?
Worms can live for years, usually anywhere between 4 to 8 years. It all depends on the climate and predators like birds, toads or rats.
Do earthworms grow and develop?
After earthworms mate, their fertilised eggs are held in a protective cocoon. The baby worms (hatchlings) emerge and burrow into the soil, where they grow into juvenile then mature worms.
How do earthworms multiply?
To breed worms, set up a plastic or wood bin with drainage holes at the bottom. Fill it with soil and compost bedding. Then, add your worms and feed them food scraps, paper, or manure once a week. After 3-6 months, harvest your worms by separating the soil and adding half of the worms to a new container.
Can earthworms be pets?
Composting worms make great pets because they are no trouble at all. Stocking a worm farm costs less than $50, but pays off in unlimited free compost for your garden. While worms are not fluffy or affectionate, they come with fewer problems than other pets.
Do worms feel pain?
But a team of Swedish researchers has uncovered evidence that worms do indeed feel pain, and that worms have developed a chemical system similar to that of human beings to protect themselves from it.
What do newborn earthworms look like?
When the baby worms emerge from the cocoon, they are barely visible. They look like tiny, transparent threads. They may be small, but they go to work eating organic matter right away – little eating machines! As they grow, they darken in color and develop clear segments.
Can an earthworm survive if cut in half?
For some worms, being cut between the head end and tail end will result in two fully functioning worms after the missing parts regenerate. But in some cases, the tail end of a worm will regenerate new tail segments rather than a head, the Washington Post reports.
How many babies do earthworms have?
A cocoon starts with up to 10 eggs, but only 2 to 6 worms will eventually emerge. Hatchlings are tiny, less than an inch long. They soon grow into full-sized worms, depending on environmental conditions.
What do I feed earthworms?
Worms will eat anything that was once living,Leftover vegetable scraps, fruit and vegetable peelings.Tea leaves / bags and coffee grounds.Vacuum cleaner dust or hair clippings (also animal)Torn up newspapers, egg cartons or soaked pizza cartons.Crushed egg shells (these will also help with the pH balance)
What are disadvantages of earthworms?
The problem with excessive earthworm castings is that they are actually too full of nutrients. When there are too many earthworms in the soil that a lawn grows from, their castings will actually start to burn the lawn due to the overabundance of fertilizer.
Do worms eat their bedding?
Good bedding can also be eaten by the worms. In fact, up to 50% of a worms diet may consist of its bedding. One material that works extremely well for both bedding and food is brown cardboard. Red worms love to eat brown cardboard.
How many babies does an earthworm have?
Within the egg, a young earthworm develops until it is ready to hatch. The egg is encased in an egg casing called a cocoon. The number of eggs within one cocoon can vary between species, ranging between 1 and 20 from earthworm species in the family Lumbricidae (but most species have just 1).
Do earthworms lay eggs or give birth?
Worms do not give birth since babies come from eggs and are not live born. I suppose you can consider forming and depositing the egg-filled cocoon “giving birth.” The process of forming a cocoon full of worm embryos starts when the worms separate after mating.
How long can worms grow?
Earthworm Segements and Burrowing Typically only a few inches in length, some members of this species have been known to grow to a serpentine 14 inches. Earthworms' bodies are made up of ring-like segments called annuli. These segments are covered in setae, or small bristles, which the worm uses to move and burrow.
How long does a worm stay in a cocoon?
A cocoon may hold one to 20 juvenile earthworms; the number varies according to species and external conditions, though usually no more than a few will emerge. The young look just like adults of their species, except much smaller. It takes between 10 and 55 weeks for them to mature to their full adult size.
How big is an earthworm?
Earthworm head. Depending on the species, an adult earthworm can be from 10 mm (0.39 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) wide to 3 m (9.8 ft) long and over 25 mm (0.98 in) wide , but the typical Lumbricus terrestris grows to about 360 mm (14 in) long.
How do earthworms affect soil?
Earthworms accelerate nutrient cycling in the soil-plant system through fragmentation & mixing of plant debris – physical grinding & chemical digestion. The earthworm's existence cannot be taken for granted. Dr. W. E. Shewell-Cooper observed "tremendous numerical differences between adjacent gardens", and worm populations are affected by a host of environmental factors, many of which can be influenced by good management practices on the part of the gardener or farmer.
Why are earthworms important?
The ability to break down organic materials and excrete concentrated nutrients makes the earthworm a functional contributor in restoration projects. In response to ecosystem disturbances, some sites have utilized earthworms to prepare soil for the return of native flora. Research from the Station d'écologie Tropicale de Lamto asserts that the earthworms positively influence the rate of macroaggregate formation, an important feature for soil structure. The stability of aggregates in response to water was also found to be improved when constructed by earthworms.
What are earthworms called?
Folk names for the earthworm include "dew-worm", "rainworm", "nightcrawler", and "angleworm" (from its use as fishing bait ). Larger terrestrial earthworms are also called megadriles (translates to "big worms"), opposed to the microdriles ("small worms") in the semiaquatic families Tubificidae, Lumbricidae, and Enchytraeidae.
What is the class of an earthworm?
Annelida. Class: Clitellata. Order: Opisthopora. Suborder: Lumbricina. An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan, are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation, and usually have setae on all segments.
How many pairs of testes does an earthworm have?
Earthworms have one or two pairs of testes contained within sacs. The two or four pairs of seminal vesicles produce, store and release the sperm via the male pores. Ovaries and oviducts in segment 13 release eggs via female pores on segment 14, while sperm is expelled from segment 15.
How do worms mate?
The sexual organs are located in segments 9 to 15. Earthworms have one or two pairs of testes contained within sacs. The two or four pairs of seminal vesicles produce, store and release the sperm via the male pores. Ovaries and oviducts in segment 13 release eggs via female pores on segment 14, while sperm is expelled from segment 15. One or more pairs of spermathecae are present in segments 9 and 10 (depending on the species) which are internal sacs that receive and store sperm from the other worm during copulation. As a result, segment 15 of one worm exudes sperm into segments 9 and 10 with its storage vesicles of its mate. Some species use external spermatophores for sperm transfer.
What is earthworm production?
Earthworm production is an enterprise that could be suitable for many small land owners. An operation with one or two worm beds requires only minimal setup costs, maintenance, and labor. A small enterprise can be handled with family labor. If you live on a farm, you may already have much of the materials required for constructing ...
How long do red earthworms live?
Be sure of what you are buying and make sure they are suitable for your intended market. Red earthworms will mature in 179 days and live approximately 700 days. They produce between 79 and 106 cocoons per worm and vary from 1 to 4 inches in length at maturity.
What worms are used for bait?
Other worm species sometimes grown for bait include the African night crawler ( Eudrilus eugeniae) and the brandling worm ( Eisenia foetida, also known as "red wigglers"). African night crawlers grow best at higher temperature and are more suited for production in warmer climates.
What are the most common bait worms in the United States?
Most commercially raised worms live in surface litter and feed on decaying organic matter. The primary bait worm raised in the United States is the red earthworm ( Lumbricus rubellus ). It is the most popular variety because of its hardiness and ability to tolerate large concentrations of decaying organic matter.
How long does it take for a night crawler to mature?
Night crawlers mature in 350 days and produce 38 cocoons per year per worm. These large worms are typically 8-10 inches in length. Earthworms can be grown in any container with adequate organic matter and drainage. Bedding materials must be deep enough to keep the earthworms cool and moist.
What is worm casting?
The castings, or waste, from the worms are a very good source of fertilizer for gardens and horticultural enterprises and the nutrients are more readily available than from manure compost. These castings may be sold to home gardeners and commercial growers. Worm castings contain over two times the nutrient value as cow manure and are often diluted with water or mixed with potting soil. Unlike aerobic composting, however, there is little to no reduction of weed seeds or pathogens from the vermiculture process.
What is the most important issue that a potential earthworm grower faces?
The most important issue that a potential earthworm grower faces is sufficient market demand. Earthworms sold for animal feeds, home gardens, or organic waste disposal systems are usually sold in quantities of a pound or while earthworms for bait are generally sold in smaller containers.
How long does it take for an earthworm colony to double?
Maintain an earthworm colony's size. An earthworm population can actually double in size within 60 to 90 days, since earthworms are hermaphroditic and have quick gestation periods. Accordingly, an established earthworm colony will replenish its own population as long as you don't take too many out.
What is the largest earthworm?
The largest of the earthworms mentioned in this article, the African nightcrawler will produce a large amount of waste and breeds rapidly. They can also be used as fishing bait.
Why do worms like to escape?
Avoid feeding your worms too many kitchen scraps. The breakdown of food items will lead to heat in your bin. If your worms seem to be trying to escape - they probably are. One reason they may be doing this is that the bin is too hot.
What is the best way to grow worms?
Plan to sustain an environment that is moist and dark. If climate allows, outdoors compost is the easiest and best form of a worm system.
What temperature do vermiculites like?
In fact, in established vermicomposting beds, they can survive temperatures as low as 40 °F (4 °C) and as high as 100 °F (38 °C).
What is the most valuable attribute of an earthworm?
Earthworm’s most valuable attribute is their ability to transform organic material into a highly nutritious substance called “castings.”. Controlling this process by vermicomposting will give you a way to get rid of organic waste, not to mention provide you with a constant supply of organic fertilizer.
How many babies can a worm produce?
One worm can produce as many as 99 offspring in 11 weeks. Red wigglers also make a great food item for chickens, pet turtles, lizards, and aquarium fish. ...
How long does it take for worms to grow?
It usually takes between 10 and 55 weeks for baby worms to mature into their full adult size.
How do earthworms reproduce?
But, how do they reproduce? These hermaphrodites must first find a mate, which can begin as soon as that wide, whitish band towards the head called the clitellum forms at about four to six weeks old . The clitellum is important for reproduction because this where the reproductive organs exist.
How do worms mate?
However, once two worms have found each other, they’re ready to mate. They will join together in opposite directions as they line up their clitellums. Once the worms are lined up, the clitellum will produce a mucous sheath and nutritive materials. As the sheath slides forward, it will pick up ova from the earthworm’s ovaries, as well as packets of sperm that will be stored in sacs. Once the clitellum sheath slides off the worm’s head, the ends are dried and sealed to form the cocoon located on each of the worm’s clitellum’s.
How long does it take for a cocoon to hatch?
This usually occurs within three weeks to five months depending on the gestation period of the species as well as the temperature and soil conditions – it has to be dry. If conditions are not right, the hatching can be delayed until the spring – but they can survive for years if need be. This, however, causes the cocoons to overwinter in the soil.
How many species of earthworms are there?
There are approximately 2,700 species of different earthworms across the world. They commonly live in habitats that us humans would find less than desirable; deep within the soil. However, you’ve definitely noticed a worm crawling along on the surface at night or after a shower in the spring or fall. And, you may have even come across two worms mating when the conditions are ideal, like when it’s under 50 degrees. While the whole idea or worms reproducing sounds a bit gross for some people, the lifecycle of a worm is actually fascinating. Why else would Darwin devote 39 years to study the earthworm? There’s a lot to learn from our slimy neighbors.
How long do worms live?
Worms can live for years, usually anywhere between 4 to 8 years. It all depends on the climate and predators like birds, toads or rats. However, since the body of a worm consists of 90% water, one of the most common causes of death is when the worm’s skin dries out.
What happens to worms when they die?
Once a worm dies, their body will become soil compost, which is great for the ecosystem.
How big are Earthworms?
An adult worm and earthquake can be from 0.39 inches long to 0.039 inches in width and can go to 9.8 feet long and 0.98 in widths.
What is an earthworm?
An earthworm is a segmented worm. There are also thousands of worm species in the world. Here are some of the giant earthworm species in the world.
What Is The Biggest Earthworm Ever Found?
There is more than one record of the most giant earthworm ever found. There has been one found in between the road of Alice and King William’s town. The longest earthworms were from South Africa.
How Big Is The Biggest Worm In The World?
The largest earthworm in the world may be the Megascolides Australis. This is a rare worm species from Australia.
How many species of worms are there in the world?
There are around six thousand species worldwide. You may see a lot of types of worms and earthworms, but you still have hundreds of worms and earthworms you have not seen yet. The full size of worms and earthworms will depend on the species of the worms.
What color are earthworms?
These worms have dark purple heads and a body that is color blue. Unlike many earthworms, these earthworms live their life burrowed in the soil for fifty-two centimeters. These worms are sluggish and move fast when they are deep in the ground.
Why do gardeners like worms?
Gardeners appreciate worms and earthworms because they are allies in making the soil healthy and make the plants healthy.
How big are earthworms?
Full size for an earthworm varies among species, ranging from less than half an inch long to nearly 10 fee t. The latter monsters don’t occur in U.S. backyards—you’ll have to go to the Tropics to see one of them. The homegrown versions top out at around 14 inches.
How do earthworms mate?
They mate on the surface of the earth, pressing their bodies together and exchanging sperm before separating . Later, the clitellum, a collarlike organ that goes around the worm’s body the way a cigar band does a cigar, produces a ring around the worm. As the worm crawls out of the ring, it fills the ring with eggs and sperm. The ring drops off, seals shut at the ends and becomes a cocoon for the developing eggs.
How many species of earthworms are there?
Earthworms come in a seemly infinite variety— around 6,000 species worldwide. One of the most familiar of them, the sort you may see in your garden, is commonly known as the night crawler (it typically surfaces after dark), the angleworm (its makes popular bait for fishing) or the rain worm (it leaves waterlogged soil after storms).
How to keep earthworms out of your garden?
Also, to avoid spreading earthworm eggs when fertilizing with composted materials, freeze your compost for at least a week before using it—freezing will kill eggs as well as the worms. If you use earthworms for bait fishing, don’t dump leftover worms onto the soil at the end of a day’s fishing. Remove them from the site, or throw them far enough into a pond that they will die before they can reach to shore. When planting new shrubs or trees in your garden or yard, examine any earth ball or potting soil for evidence of worms.
How to avoid spreading earthworm eggs?
Also, to avoid spreading earthworm eggs when fertilizing with composted materials, freeze your compost for at least a week before using it— freezing will kill eggs as well as the worms. If you use earthworms for bait fishing, don’t dump leftover worms onto the soil at the end of a day’s fishing.
What do earthworm eggs look like?
Earthworm egg cases look like tiny lemons. When earthworms hatch, they look like tiny adults. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
How do earthworms digest food?
The earthworm’s digestive system is a tube running straight from the mouth, located at the tip of the front end of the body, to the rear of the body , where digested material is passed to the outside. Species vary in what they eat, but by and large their devouring of fallen leaves and/or soil allows the worms to move nutrients such as potassium and nitrogen into the soil. Also, worm movements within the earth create burrows that encourage the passage of air and a loosening of the soil. Good things, right? Well, maybe not. Which brings us to 10.
How do earthworms reproduce?
Earthworms are invertebrates composed of many segments (Fig. 1). They don't have bones and move by contracting and relaxing the body segments in sequence. They also have little bristlelike organs that help them cling to slippery surfaces. Most earthworms have both male and female organs. Typically, however, they still need a partner to reproduce. When earthworms mate, they lay side by side in reverse position. At that moment they exchange sperm. The sperm of the partner is stored in little chambers called spermathecal apertures. These are positioned in front of the egg-producing organs. After mating, the swollen external gland, called clitellum, produces egg cases called cocoons. A cocoon case slides slowly forward, picking up eggs and sperm as it moves over the head of the earthworm. From 3 to 1,000 cocoons can be produced per year, depending on species and environmental conditions. Typically, an earthworm will produce 20 to 30 cocoons per year, with each cocoon containing 1 to 10 eggs. Peak cocoon production is in the spring or early summer. The eggs in the cocoons hatch when conditions are right. Under ideal conditions, it may take from 1 to 5 months for the eggs to hatch. It may then take from 3 to 12 months before these worms are sexually mature. Worms typically live only a few months because of the many environmental threats they face. They have been observed to live for 10 years in a protected environment. In a favorable environment previously without earthworms, earthworm populations increased 80-fold in 4 years after introduction.
How many cocoons do earthworms produce?
From 3 to 1,000 cocoons can be produced per year, depending on species and environmental conditions. Typically, an earthworm will produce 20 to 30 cocoons per year , with each cocoon containing 1 to 10 eggs. Peak cocoon production is in the spring or early summer. The eggs in the cocoons hatch when conditions are right.
How does tillage affect earthworms?
In long-term clean-tilled fields, nightcrawlers are scarce. Tillage also stimulates drying the surface soil and wide day/night temperature fluctuations. This is another reason earthworms are less numerous in clean-tilled fields compared to no-tilled fields. Tillage brings earthworms to the surface where they are subject to predators such as birds. Total earthworm populations in long-term no-tilled fields are typically at least twice those of clean-tilled fields.
Why are earthworms important?
Earthworms are an important part of the soil ecosystem. They help improve soil structure and soil chemical and biological properties. They are especially important in no-till, helping to stimulate air and water movement in soil. Earthworms tend to thrive most without tillage, if sufficient crop residue is left on the soil surface. Crop rotations, cover crops, manure, fertilizer and lime applications all affect earthworm populations. Some pesticides, especially organophosphates and carbamates, are toxic to earthworms. Most herbicides do not pose a threat to earthworms.
How much dry matter do earthworms eat?
Typical earthworm populations can easily consume 2 tons of dry matter per acre per year, partly digesting and mixing it with soil. The importance of earthworms to mix surface residue with soil becomes very clear in soils that do not have any earthworms.
Why are earthworms tied up in a knot?
Earthworms in diapause are tied up in a knot in a little hole that is lined with a slimy substance to avoid moisture loss. Eggs in cocoons survive prolonged drought, allowing earthworm populations to survive drought periods. Because of dry conditions, earthworm populations in Pennsylvania are low in the summer.
What are the nutrients in earthworm casts?
Earthworm casts have higher available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium contents than surrounding soil, as well as a higher cation-exchange capacity. Some micronutrients, such as zinc and boron, are more available in the excrement of earthworms through chelation of the micronutrients.
Overview
Life and physiology
At birth, earthworms emerge small but fully formed, lacking only their sex structures which develop in about 60 to 90 days. They attain full size in about one year. Scientists predict that the average lifespan under field conditions is four to eight years, while most garden varieties live only one to two years.
Several common earthworm species are mostly parthenogenetic, meaning that growth and devel…
Anatomy
Depending on the species, an adult earthworm can be from 10 mm (0.39 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) wide to 3 m (9.8 ft) long and over 25 mm (0.98 in) wide, but the typical Lumbricus terrestris grows to about 360 mm (14 in) long. Probably the longest worm on confirmed records is Amynthas mekongianus that extends up to 3 m (10 ft) in the mud along the banks of the 4,350 km (2,703 mi) Mekong River in Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy and distribution
Within the world of taxonomy, the stable 'Classical System' of Michaelsen (1900) and Stephenson (1930) was gradually eroded by the controversy over how to classify earthworms, such that Fender and McKey-Fender (1990) went so far as to say, "The family-level classification of the megascolecid earthworms is in chaos." Over the years, many scientists have developed their own classification systems for earthworms, which led to confusion, and these systems have been an…
Ecology
Earthworms are classified into three main ecophysiological categories: (1) leaf litter- or compost-dwelling worms that are nonburrowing, live at the soil-litter interface and eat decomposing organic matter (epigeic) e.g. Eisenia fetida; (2) topsoil- or subsoil-dwelling worms that feed (on soil), burrow and cast within the soil, creating horizontal burrows in upper 10–30 cm of soil (endogeic); and (3) worms that construct permanent deep vertical burrows which they use to vis…
Economic impact
Various species of worms are used in vermiculture, the practice of feeding organic waste to earthworms to decompose food waste. These are usually Eisenia fetida (or its close relative Eisenia andrei) or the Brandling worm, commonly known as the tiger worm or red wiggler. They are distinct from soil-dwelling earthworms. In the tropics, the African nightcrawler Eudrilus eugeniae and the Indian blue Perionyx excavatus are used.
See also
• Drilosphere, the part of the soil influenced by earthworm secretions and castings
• The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms, an 1881 book by Charles Darwin
• Soil life
• Vermicompost
Further reading
• Edwards, Clive A., Bohlen, P.J. (eds.) Biology and Ecology of Earthworms. Springer, 2005. 3rd edition.
• Edwards, Clive A. (ed.) Earthworm Ecology. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2004. Second revised edition. ISBN 0-8493-1819-X
• Lee, Keneth E. Earthworms: Their Ecology and Relationships with Soils and Land Use. Academic Press. Sydney, 1985. ISBN 0-12-440860-5
Marketing
Growing Earthworms
- Most commercially raised worms live in surface litter and feed on decaying organic matter. The primary bait worm raised in the United States is the red earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus). It is the most popular variety because of its hardiness and ability to tolerate large concentrations of decaying organic matter. Other worm species sometimes grown for bait include the African nigh…
Harvesting
- During the growing season, worms feed at night near the bed surface. The best time for harvesting is in the early morning before the worms move deeper into the bed. Remove the top 2-3 inches of bedding material, separate the marketable worms, and return the bedding material to the bed. You can separate worms by hand using a sorting screen or with a commercial earthwor…
Vermiculture
- Vermiculture is the use of worms to digest organic waste and produce castings for fertilizer. Many vermiculture enterprises use brandling worms or African night crawlers in beds to digest the waste. Worms will not digest meat, dairy products, fatty foods, or oils. Because a worm will consume one-half of its body weight in organic matter every day, you will need to provide a half …
Budgeting
- The sample budget provides an estimate of the costs and returns for earthworm production. This budget shows what costs and receipts to include in your calculations. Costs and returns are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation because they are numerous and variable. Therefore, you should think of this budget as a first approximation and use the "Your Estimate" column to r…
For More Information
- Bogdanov, Peter, Commercial Vermiculture: How to Build a Thriving Business in Red Worms. Petros, 1998.
- Edwards, Clive A., Norman Q. Arancon, and Rhonda L. Sherman, eds. Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, and Environmental Management. Philadelphia, PA: CRC Press, 2010.
- Bogdanov, Peter, Commercial Vermiculture: How to Build a Thriving Business in Red Worms. Petros, 1998.
- Edwards, Clive A., Norman Q. Arancon, and Rhonda L. Sherman, eds. Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, and Environmental Management. Philadelphia, PA: CRC Press, 2010.
- Gaboury, Bob. Complete Guide to Worm Farming: Worm Farming for Fun and Profit. Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Publishing, 2010.
- Karaca, Ayten. Biology of Earthworms (Soil Biology). New York: Springer Publishing, 2010
Authors
- Prepared by Jayson K. Harper, professor of agricultural economics, and Lynn F. Kime, senior extension associate. This publication was developed by the Small-scale and Part-time Farming Project at Penn State with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service.