WASHINGTON, February 22, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today up to $2 million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management education and training programs that support farmers and ranchers, including underserved producers, small-scale farmers, organic operations and climate-smart farm practices.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) makes this funding available to provide the needed resources for organizations – such as universities, county cooperative extension offices, and nonprofit organizations – to develop education tools that help producers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges.

“Agriculture is an inherently risky line of work, so we are partnering with organizations to provide valuable training, particularly in underserved communities, so that they learn how to effectively manage risks with their businesses,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “We’re committed to broadening the reach of crop insurance and these risk management education partnerships are a testament to our efforts to reach more communities.”

A broad range of risk management training activities are eligible for funding consideration, including training on crop insurance options, record keeping, financial management, non-insurance-based risk management tools and natural disaster preparedness among others. Partners can also train farmers at all levels on risk management options that help secure local food systems.

Proposals are due April 24, 2023. The notice of funding has additional details View Opportunity |GRANTS.GOV. Interested organizations must apply through the Results Verification System at http://rvs.umn.edu.  

In the past two years, RMA has invested roughly $6.5 million into risk management education and outreach partnerships.

Examples of previous RME education partnership projects include:

• Invested $200,000 to assist the Rural South Institute deliver financial and risk management education to minority producers underserved by crop insurance in 18 persistent poverty counties in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
• Invested $107,000 with the University of Arizona to improve risk management skills of small to medium-scale Native American livestock producers in Arizona and New Mexico.

More Information

RMA oversees the Federal crop insurance program and promotes a strong farm safety net to sustain and ensure the success of American agriculture. Federal crop insurance helps farmers and ranchers manage risks, such as catastrophic weather conditions and market fluctuations.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov  

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