Identify available resources that can make a contribution to program effectiveness. Establish annual goals and a plan of action to reach their goals. In the program planning process, committees should allow sufficient time to prepare, arrange, announce and publicize events and activities. The annual plans should be based on a careful review of the county's current Long-Range Extension Program, addressing both continuing and emerging issues. To have successful programs, Extension educators must stay informed about situations affecting their intended efforts.
Situation analysis helps to determine whether to start, continue, discontinue or redirect a program.
Thorough analysis of county situations will yield a wealth of program possibilities from which choices will be made. Inevitably, new situations that are not covered within the scope of the long-range program will arise. These should also be considered within annual decisions and priorities for program activity and the goal-setting phase. A fundamental idea in annual planning is that goals and priorities will be based on the strategic plan. Over the period that the LREP covers, each year's plans will focus on appropriate targeted audiences and problem solving phases.