Risk Management for Farmers

Risk Management Workshops Set for New Hampshire Farmers

UNH Cooperative Extension 24.OCT.09

Small farms in New Hampshire grew by nearly 4,200 in recent years, with an increasing trend towards organic and small-farm production.

To help navigate the inherent risks and learn new strategies for managing production, marketing and financing, a team of UNH Cooperative Extension staff will offer a series of workshops beginning November 2, and continuing through spring of 2010.

Over the course of these workshops, UNH Cooperative Extension, partnering with the USDA Risk Management Agency, the N.H. Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food, and the USDA Farm Service Agency, will provide tools and techniques for managing business risks while explaining the benefits of participating in crop and revenue insurance programs.

“UNH Cooperative Extension professionals have extensive experience in educational programming for farmers and a proven record of successful partnering with other agencies,” says Extension agricultural business management specialist Mike Sciabarrasi. “Extension educators believe outreach education is the best way to help New Hampshire farmers discover what’s available to them.”

The first workshop takes place November 2 with 10-plus Marketing Strategies and Tips to Consider When Selling Farm Products, at the Rockingham County complex in Brentwood. Featuring a panel of expert growers, those attending will learn more about potential farm markets for next season and the importance of branding and pricing products, while hearing different views about the pros and cons of crop insurance.

The workshops continue through the fall.

Tree Fruit – Year in Review and Planning for the Future, will be held November 14 at the Hillsborough County complex in Goffstown. Early December features a weekend seminar on ethnic crops, and in January the N.H. Small Family Farm conference takes place in Concord and the N.H. Women in Agriculture conference in the Keene area.

The workshop series focuses on reaching beginning farmers, women farm operators, fruit and vegetable farmers who market their products directly to consumers, and farmers interested in growing ethnic crops. In the winter and spring of 2010, additional programs will be offered for organic producers, dairy farmers and nursery operations. Financial support from the USDA Risk Management Agency has enabled UNH Cooperative Extension to offer these programs at minimal cost to participants.