By analyzing the scope and structure of agricultural extension services in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States, this work attempts to set guidelines for measuring progress and guiding extension efforts. Extension training, agricultural policy, and activities of national, international, state, and provincial bodies are examined. The growing public and political interest in the problem of closing the gap between research and its application on the farm is discussed as is also recent growth, including the increase in farm advisory clubs and consultants. Australian services are compared with those elsewhere. With existing organizational patterns and beliefs, both official Australian bodies and agricultural scientists tend to deny their own best efforts to develop extension services; extension, like research, should be established as an independent discipline carried forward by highly skilled professional specialists. A much more positive educational role is recommended, aimed at solving problems of both large and small farmers and improving managerial performance. The document includes an index, three tables, and 137 references. (ly)