| PROJECT SUMMARY |
This project is aimed at smaller-scale, minority Hispanic farmers and ranchers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, an area that represents 21% of the Hispanic farm operators in Texas and 6% of the Hispanic operators in the United States. A cooperative project is proposed between the extension staff from the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University and Texas Cooperative Extension. Two existing and successful risk management education programs will be integrated to extend a unique opportunity to a set of Hispanic farmers and ranchers seeking assistance for USDA-FSA loans. Approximately thirty small scale Hispanic producers in the project area will receive a customized, state-of-the-art financial risk analysis of their agricultural operations and personalized guidance for specific management investment decisions that they face. The outcome of this project to be improved decision making, and either avoidance of losses from riskier decisions or improved risk efficiency in the continuing operation (improved or stabilized financial position). This outcome will be measured by conducting a twelve month follow-up visit to evaluate the influence and impact of the project on the participants. The major outputs from the project include: 1) customized report writing and interpretation for each client, 2) follow-up contacts and provision of extension resources, and 3) delivery of basic risk management training and materials in a follow-up group workshop. This proposed project is efficient since this clientele are already in direct, individual contact with Cooperative Extension Program-Prairie View staff for loan assistance. The loan application process provides an initial collection of financial information that is necessary for participation in the proposed project. This proposed project will support a closer collaboration between extension staff between the 1862 and 1890 programs in Texas.
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| NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 85 |
| TOPICS COVERED |
