STILLWATER — Oklahoma State University is working to provide individuals, communities and public and private agencies with insights about how best to apply resources to speed up recovery from economic disruptions caused by COVID-19.

OSU Extension specialists and researchers with the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics are conducting a survey of Oklahomans – including farmers and ranchers, agricultural companies and other business operators, and heads of households – to take the pulse of current opinions on the economy and comfort level with group meetings.

By the end of May, more than 700 people had responded to the survey distributed by Extension county educators and cooperating partners around the state, said Amy Hagerman, OSU Extension agricultural and food policy specialist. The ongoing survey is short, with most people being able to complete it in about five minutes.

Giving up a little time to participate will be well spent, given the potential impact on how dollars and personnel are invested to maximize information and assistance, Hagerman said.

The online survey is voluntary and all responses are anonymous.

Respondents can read it before filling out the questionnaire, and additional comments are allowed at the end of the survey.

“The only restriction is a person must be 18 years of age or older to participate,” Hagerman said. “Again, strict confidence will be maintained. Oklahoma officials at every level need to know what people think about perceived economic recovery challenges rather than relying on assumptions.”

For more information about survey participation, contact OSU’s Courtney Bir by email at courtney.bir@ okstate.edu or Scott Hall by email at irb@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-3377.

The university’s department of agricultural economics is part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources which is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Extension and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station system.