May 29, 2018

Risk management education, training funding offered by USDA

–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) has made available $8.89 million for risk management education and training programs. The funding will allow organizations such as universities, county cooperative extension offices, and nonprofit organizations to develop training and educational tools to help farmers and ranchers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges.

Interested organizations may apply by submitting documentation required as part of the Risk Management Education Partnerships Request for Applications (RFA). The applications are then reviewed, and awardees enter into cooperative agreements that are managed by RMA’s Risk Management Education Division.

“Risk Management Education helps ensure that farmers and ranchers know and understand what tools are available to them and how to plan for unknown weather and financial situations. USDA works with private organizations to help reach a wide range of producers, and connect them with resources from RMA, as well as from partner agencies within USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation mission area, the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre.

“Agriculture is an inherently risky business,” Babre said. “The farm safety net provides producers and owners various methods to mitigate production and revenue risks and helps to maintain a healthy rural economy.”

Available funding includes $4.73 million for the Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States Program for crop insurance education 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, $4.16 million in funding is available for the Risk Management Education Partnership Program, which provides funding for the development of general nationwide crop insurance education as well as other risk management training programs for producers.

A broad range of risk management training activities are eligible for funding consideration under these programs, including training on Federal crop insurance options, risk analysis, and changes to the crop insurance program. Partners also can train farmers at all levels on risk management options that help secure local food systems and strengthen rural communities.

Information about how to apply to these programs is available at Grants.gov (www.grants.gov). For information about the Risk Management Partnership program, search by catalog of federal domestic assistance (CFDA) for 10.460 and information on the Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States can be found by searching for 10.458.

Applications for both programs are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 30, 2018. All applications must be submitted electronically through the Results Verification System website (rvs.umn.edu) and received by the deadline.

For the 2017 crop year the Federal crop insurance program insured 311.4 million acres, with 1.12 million policies and $106 billion worth of coverage as of May 4, 2018.

RMA works with private partners to assist producers, especially limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally underserved farmers and ranchers, in effectively managing long-term risks and challenges. For more information about RMA, its programs, or to volunteer to serve as a reviewer, visit www.rma.usda.gov.