::: ::: Agriculture Extension & Education 　　Agriculture extension and education programs are regularly organized to train farmers and extension agents in the Farmer's Associations. In addition to organizing various training courses (organic farming, honeybee rearing, biocontrol, etc.), to provide useful information to the farmers through mass communication media such as newsletter, radio and television. The station has a laboratory to process the videotapes on varied subjects, which will be shown on TV at a fixed time. Extension booklets and leaflets are edited and distributed to farmers free of charge from time to time. Our quarterly "Special Report of Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station" , which contains brief research findings, and Miaoli Agriculture Monthly, which contains practical information, are also sent to interested scientist and local farmers for reference. Pamphlets on special topics are also printed for distribution. The Station created a web site to provide updated information through Internet service for needy people.   Agricultural Management 　　A profitable management of a farm depends largely on the strategy of production and marketing. The Station helps the farmers to organize themselves into various Production and Marketing Management Groups for an integrated farm operation. The operation of this team has been proven to be able to reduce the production cost. Under the help of this Station, a total of 401 groups (organic rice, vegetable, fruit tree, bee keeping rearing, chicken raising, etc.) involving a total of 8,276 farmers has been organized. Economics analysis is made for each group with regard to input (labor, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) and output (yields, gross and net profits etc.). The results of analysis are compiled and reported to Council of Agriculture for further analysis. 　　The collected information of every Production and Marketing Management Group is stored in a computerized storage and retrieval system. Annual evaluation on the performance of the groups is made jointly with the Miaoli County government and local Farmer's Association. The Council of Agriculture will make the final evaluation in cooperation with Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute. When rated as a good performer, the group will be awarded with special subsidy as an encouragement.   Rural Life Improvement 　　The purpose of this project is to elevate living standard and cultural level of rural life. Home economics education programs are organized by the home economist of this Station. Various activities related to rural life such as cooking, flower arrangement, beautification of rural environment and farmhouses, are taken place in cooperation with the home economist of the Farmer's Associations.