This thesis is concerned with an investigation into current on-farm grain storage practice and with ascertaining what educational interventions, if any, are appropriate for future and more detailed consideration. The Australian grain growing, handling, and marketing industry has changed in recent times. A few years ago (1989), the grain growers only essential contact with grain marketing was through the bulk handling authorities and the Australian Wheat Board. Advice was freely available from state departments of agriculture, and the only requirement to store grain on-farm was that necessary for the grower's own needs. Now (1994), there is a possible advantage that grain stored on-farm may be used for a wide range of selling options, amongst other reasons, and market requirements are much more complex and stringent. There is a substantial body of research on grain storage techniques. At the same time there is a significant gap between researched knowledge and the use of this knowledge for on-farm storage. A major purpose of this study is to identify an improved approach to extension and farmer education that may help to reduce this gap. This thesis contains a review of the general literature on extension followed by an overview of extension in the developed world to establish the international context for Australia. Then the historical context of extension is examined briefly to understand the current situation in each state. Some educational models are reviewed to identify relationships between stakeholders and the opportunities available for and constraints to development of educational strategies. Information channels are reviewed to comprehend extension interaction and grain storage technologies are reviewed to ensure comprehension of techniques. On the basis of the literature review a field study was designed to investigate current on-farm storage practice, current extension sources for storage information and preferences for future educational interventions. This was done by a survey using a stratified random sample of grain growers and cluster selection of individuals for personal interviews. This information was complemented by informal discussion with farmers at field days. The results of the study confirmed the gap between research knowledge and on-farm implementation of this knowledge. They also demonstrated that grain growers wanted more information and gave some indicators of how this might be achieved. Major findings of the research included the need for extension coalitions and the desirability for active involvement of the grain grower. Major conclusions, for on-farm storage and extension, are drawn to form a basis for development of future extension interventions. These are aimed at ensuring grain growers have available the information needed for good storage practice. This includes an essential understanding the grain growers' needs and perceptions, early, in any planning process. It also includes the necessity for coordination of extension/education activities at local, regional and national levels. The research has some major implications for an improved approach to extension and on-farm storage. These include the establishment of a farmers-as-researcher program to implement grain storage innovations and the recognition that implemented change will need long term maintenance; often more resource intensive than the original intervention.