| PROJECT SUMMARY |
The objective of this project was to enhance the agricultural economics training with an emphasis on risk management for four county ag agents in North Carolina and five agents from Georgia. Emphasis was placed upon the area of price risk management using the traditional tools available in concert with the new farm program and prevailing market conditions.
The educational method used was attendance at workshops and conferences conducted by specialists as well as the provision of some follow-up individual training in workshop practice sessions. The target audience was county agents who have an emphasis on agricultural economics in their counties. The agents identified are critically important to the extension risk management programs in North Carolina and Georgia directed at serving our producer and agricultural lender clientele. In short, these agents play an integral role in ensuring that the “rubber meets the road” when it comes to risk management decisions as they are typically the first point of contact with our clientele.
This project has facilitated enhanced training for these agents by providing funds for them to attend the Southern Region Outlook Conference and one other training of their own choice. Most chose to attend the Outlook Conference the next year. Funds were also requested for ag agents to cover expenses associated with dissemination of their increased knowledge within their county and for a multi-county workshop. Therefore, through the trickle-down effect the initial investment made in the ag agents has been passed to all of the producers in their respective counties through the ag agents´ programs. |
| NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 9 |
| TOPICS COVERED |
| Insurance products |
| Market analysis and outlook |
| Cash and futures pricing tools |
| Marketing strategies, plans and clubs |
| Financial records, analysis, and bench-marking |
| Credit |
| Understanding of economic risks associated with new production technologies |
