THE INCREASED PRESSURE FOR GREATER EXPERTISE OF EXTENSION AGENTS, COMBINED WITH LIMITATIONS FOR SPECIALIZATION IMPOSED BY COUNTY LINES, HAS RESULTED IN VARIOUS APPROACHES TO AREA WORK. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO TEST THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING EFFICIENCY, PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE, DEVELOPING A HIGHER DEGREE OF COMPETENCY AMONG STAFF MEMBERS, AND INCREASING THE PERSONAL SATISFACTION OF FARM ADVISERS BY PERMITTING CROSS-COUNTY WORK. THE STUDY FOCUSED ON EXTENSION PERSONNEL IN AREA WORK UNDER THE BARTER AND CASH REIMBURSEMENT METHODS. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM PERSONNEL IN AREA EXTENSION WORK IN GLENN AND BUTTE COUNTIES (BARTER) AND SUTTER AND COLUSA COUNTIES (CASH REIMBURSEMENT), BOTH PAIRS OF COUNTIES HAVING STARTED CROSS-COUNTY WORK IN DAIRY AND CERTIFIED SEED PRODUCTION DURING 1960. COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTORS WERE UNANIMOUS IN APPROVING AREA EXTENSION WORK AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SERVICE. THEY PREFERRED THE BARTER OVER CASH REIMBURSEMENT. FARM ADVISERS, IN MANY CASES, FELT AREA WORK MADE MORE WORKLOAD FOR THEM. THE STATE SPECIALIST FELT AREA WORK WAS LOGICAL, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT. ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS MUST BE SOLVED TO EFFECT A SMOOTH TRANSITION. (EB)