| PROJECT SUMMARY |
The purpose of this project is to address the rapid loss of farm land, ranches and agricultural enterprises that arise from high production costs, farmers inability to identify market frameworks that match their production plan, financial insecurity and fear of legal consequences. These problems are exceptionally prevalent among small-scale growers who are historically under served and economically disadvantaged, living on gross annual farm income between $14,000-$20,000.
Small-family farmers producing row crops, vegetable crops, and livestock in south Arkansas counties, 1890 Extension personnel, personnel from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA)and private Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will participate in exploratory workshops. The principle investigators and Extension personnel will cooperatively share opinions on the best approach to halt the uninterrupted loss of farms and ranches among the limited resource farmers. During the workshops, the farmers will be introduced to different production techniques that avoid or minimize the risk of rising production cost, identify market strategies that will give growers attractive prices for their harvest, provide financial and legal package information. The farmers will have the opportunity to express their specific needs in the workshops.
(USDA/RME 1997) identifies five primary sources of risk: Production, Marketing, Finance, Legal and Human Resource. A comprenhensive risk management guide to approaching these risk will be devleoped for small and limited resource farmers. |
| NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 30 |
| TOPICS COVERED |
| Product and enterprise diversification |
| Marketing strategies, plans and clubs |
| Financial records, analysis, and bench-marking |
| Credit |
| Understanding of economic risks associated with new production technologies |
| Business and strategic planning |
