Farming is a risky business. Natural disasters and extreme weather can have immediate and devastating effects on farms, crops and livestock. That’s why it’s critical for producers to better understand those risks and how to properly plan for them.
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides funding for organizations to partner with the agency to provide education and training nationwide. This year RMA announced up to $8.85 million for risk management education and training to assist producers, including limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally underserved farmers and ranchers. The funding also targets training for new producers and military veterans returning to farm and ranch. The request for applications are available on www.grants.gov. To be considered, applications must be submitted through the Results Verification System website at rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on July 10, 2017.
Past partner organizations have trained producers in areas of risk such as production, legal, financial, marketing, or human risk. Training may focus on crop insurance, livestock products, estate or business planning, farm transition, or other risk management practices.
Available funding for this year’s partnership application includes $4.85 million for the Crop Insurance in Targeted States Program for crop insurance programs where there is a low level of Federal crop insurance participation and availability. The targeted states are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. Additionally, $4 million in funding is available for the Risk Management Education Partnerships Program, which provides funding for the development of general nationwide crop insurance education as well as other risk management training programs for producers.
RMA serves U.S. producers through effective, market-based risk management tools that strengthen and sustain their economic stability. RMA is committed to helping farmers build a strong farm safety net and ensuring American agriculture excels well into the future. Risk management education is one way to do that. For more information visit the Risk Management Agency website.