Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience has been and still are the limited resource producers in the state of Texas. Changes/Problems: Our major challenge has been that most of our clientele base do not understand record keeping which is an integral part of production, pricing, and marketing risk. Another challenge has been the ability to get some of the producers that have been through the risk management training to adopt some of the suggestions and knowledge gained from the training. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project provided the opportunity for those who subscribed to have extra training in record keeping, financial management, and risk management from an informed position. It also afforded the participants the opportunities of making decisions that are backed by statistically sound financial information. The project has also afforded us the opportunity to assist the producers in ensuring that they have adequate financial records that they can use in their application for loans from banks or other USDA programs. We have also conducted hoop house training as a way to manage risk in adverse weather and keep the limited resource producer in production during extreme heat or extreme cold. Some of the limited resource producers that have been through our risk management training are certified. This certification have qualified them for FSA loans that have helped them expand their production or diversified as needed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Due to the sensitivity of the financial information of producers that signed up for the project, the gains of the project, the real financials of the participants could not be disclosed, but we have made available posters of our achievements to out county agents to show producers that they work with all that they stand to gain in they sign up for the Farm Assist program. Results of our achievements have also been presented at the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) in Tuskegee, Alabama. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In order to accomplish the goals of the project, we have developed a comprehensive farm management curriculum that we plan to teach the limited resource producers that we shall further recruit to teach to understand risk management through good record keeping, marketing, product diversification, and value-added production. We already have overs 100 limited resource producers that have signed up to be part of this continuous training across the 36 counties that we have our extension agents. We hope to sign on more limited resource producers and continue with the risk management training before the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Farm Assist program has allowed us to work on an individual basis with over 80 producers in the different counties that we serve. We worked with them to analyze their different types and sizes of crop and livestock operations. Several alternative scenarios with their associated risk have been analyzed for individual producers in different counties across the State, representing several thousand acres of crop and pasture land. The project successfully demonstrated to the producers we worked with the benefits of having the opportunity to take informed decision that could save them from unnecessary expenses or help them increase revenues or profits. The major measure of the Farm Assistance project’s impact is the projected monetary values and consequences of alternative scenarios analyzed for each producer. These measures indicate the gain in net worth and revenue a producer would likely have, over a 10-year planning horizon if better alternatives are chosen. Comparing the producer’s base situation to the alternative scenario showed that producers going through the program could expect about $15,000 per year difference in overall net worth and about $10,000 increase in revenue averagely; compared to their base situation without any idea of alternative production decisions. Over the 10-year planning horizon allowed in the project, each producer would potentially save or gain about $250,000.

Publications

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience has been and still are the limited resource producers in the state of Texas. Changes/Problems: Our major challenge has been that most of our clientele base do not understand record keeping which is an integral part of production, pricing, and marketing risk. Another challenge has been the ability to get some of the producers that have been through the risk management training to adopt some of the suggestions and knowledge gained from the training. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project provided the opportunity for those who subscribed to have extra training in record keeping, financial management, and risk management from an informed position. It also afforded the participants the opportunities of making decisions that are backed by statistically sound financial information. The project has also afforded us the opportunity to assist the producers in ensuring that they have adequate financial records that they can use in their application for loans from banks or other USDA programs. We have also conducted hoop house training as a way to manage risk in adverse weather and keep the limited resource producer in production during extreme heat or extreme cold. Some of the limited resource producers that have been through our risk management training are certified. This certification have qualified them for FSA loans that have helped them expand their production or diversified as needed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Due to the sensitivity of the financial information of producers that signed up for the project, the gains of the project, the real financials of the participants could not be disclosed, but we have made available posters of our achievements to out county agents to show producers that they work with all that they stand to gain in they sign up for the Farm Assist program. Results of our achievements have also been presented at the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) in Tuskegee, Alabama. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? This is the final report for this project. In order to accomplish the goals of the project, we have developed a comprehensive farm management curriculum that we plan to continue to teach limited resource producers that we recruit to understand risk management through improved record keeping, marketing, product diversification, and value-added production. We already have overs 100 limited resource producers that have signed up to be part of this continuous training across the 36 counties that we have our extension agents. We hope to sign on more limited resource producers and continue with the risk management training before as a result of this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Farm Assist program has allowed us to work on an individual basis with over 80 producers in the different counties that we serve. We worked with them to analyze their different types and sizes of crop and livestock operations. Several alternativescenarios with their associated risk have been analyzed for individual producers in different counties across the State, representing several thousand acres of crop and pasture land. The project successfully demonstrated to the producers we worked with the benefits of having the opportunity to take informed decision that could save them from unnecessary expenses or help them increase revenues or profits. The major measure of the Farm Assistance project's impact is the projected monetary values and consequences of alternative scenarios analyzed for each producer. These measures indicate the gain in net worth and revenue a producer would likely have, over a 10-year planning horizon if better alternatives are chosen. Comparing the producer's base situation to the alternative scenario showed that producers going through the program could expect about $15,000 per year difference in overall net worth and about $10,000 increase in revenue averagely; compared to their base situation without any idea of alternative production decisions. Over the 10-year planning horizon allowed in the project, each producer would potentially save or gain about $250,000.

Publications

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Provided data-driven financial analysis for over 50 small farm/ranch producers. Assisted in determining specific farm/ranch business alternatives for analysis. Generated farm reports with executive summary, graphs and performance measures that meet the producer's information preferences, and projected financial statements for the farm business. Reports help the producers make necessary adjustment based on farm analysis provided and current market. We provided agricultural producers with the ability to assess the expected financial impact of proposed changes within their operations, as well as the financial risks associated with those changes. Provided financial and risk management training to the producers we worked with. PARTICIPANTS: Participants are; Texas A&M University, Texas Farm Service Agency, Texas Natural Resources and Conservation Services, 100 Ranchers INC., Landowners Association of Texas, and Texas Small Farmers & Ranchers CBO. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Financial and Risk Management Assistance (FARM Assist) to socially disadvantaged farmers/ranchers program strives to assist producers to retain ownership, expand operations in farm and ranch land, as well as, increase participation in USDA programs. This initiative provides a computerized model based on 20 years of research by Texas A&M University agricultural economists, in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University on this project. The CEP Extension specialists work one-on-one with producers to produce an individualized analysis that compares and contrasts the expected outcomes of different strategic actions for a farm or ranch by conducting a "what if" scenario. This will allow the producer to better address the question, "What is the best plan to follow given my current situation, as well as, the opportunities and risk that I face" This model allows the producer to look at a host of scenarios and how they will affect his operation, e.g., buying or leasing land or buying new or used equipment. The model can also be used to illustrate the different effects of participating in USDA Loan Programs and Crop Programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Conduct two day workshop on Alterative Crop Production. Develop quarterly newsletter for County Extension Agents to send to producers in their respective Counties. Conduct Parasitic ID and control program with livestock producers in the Counties. Conduct Seasonal High Tunnel Workshop. Work in targeted Counties to establish Farmers Markets.

Impacts
We have provided more than 50 strategic analyses of which 10 have been completed for producers while the rest are yet to be certified. These producers represent about 5 thousand acres of land and more than $8 million in managed assets. On average, participants estimate about $30,682 in annual savings and benefits from their participation in the program. Participants indicate better ability to assess the market and financial risks and potential impacts of strategic decisions they make. Six of the producers have gone ahead and qualified for FSA loans to expand their operations based on their risk averse production practice, an experience gained from participating in the FARM Assistance program. All the participants indicate they will continue using a formal financial analysis to help make decisions in the future and also agreed to be part of PVAMU-AGNR financial management training.

Publications

• Poster presentation at the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference, Tuskegee, Alabama (Dec. 3-4, 2011)
• Poster presentation at Association of Extension Administers Conference in Memphis, TN (June 24-28, 2012)
• Poster presentation at 6th National Small Farm Conference in Memphis TN (Sept. 18-20, 2012)

Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A Project Advisory Committee was established to offer guidance and input throughout the duration of this project. The committee met on a monthly basis during the first six months of the project and has been meeting bimonthly. An agenda is prepared by the PI for each meeting. The advisory committee has provided leadership and guidance to ensure program compliance and efficient use of funds and resources. Implementation of the project has required coordination of CEP agents in the counties which we serve. The Extension Specialist has work with Small Farm Advocacy Groups such as the Landowners Association of Texas, The 100 Ranchers INC and The Small Farmers and Ranchers CBO. Extension specialist has worked with project manager to seek and engage more socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers into the program. As a result of the FARM OUTHEACH Program, the Cooperative Extension Program has employed an Extension Economist who has received training in conducting the FARM OUTREACH Analysis. The analysis that we have conducted to date were in an effort to establish a baseline for selected production parameters for Cow/Calf and Hay producers. These baseline parameters will help in developing projections for small producers as well as benchmarking their performance. Extension specialists work with producers one-on-one, so the entire FARM OUTREACH analysis is an individualized process. Before the process begins, program subscribers were asked to do a little homework by gathering some paperwork. The required data is readily available from crop insurance agents, the farm service agency (FSA) office, accountants, and loan officers. Often the information needed has already been complied in order to obtain financing. The process begins with an initial data collection meeting and can typically be finalized in two subsequent meetings. The information collected in the initial meeting is used to develop a preliminary baseline projection for the operation. In the second meeting, the extension specialist and the subscriber review the input data,verify preliminary results, and develop any alternative strategies to be analyzed. Finally, in a third meeting, the extension specialist will deliver and explain the FARM OUTREACH analysis report. PARTICIPANTS: Participants, partners, and collaborators were Texas A&M University; Texas Farm Service Agency; 100 Ranchers INC; Landowners Association of Texas; and Texas Small Farmers & Ranchers CBO. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Financial and Risk Management Assistance (FARM Assist) to socially disadvantaged farmers/ranchers program strives to assist producers to retain ownership, expand operations in farm and ranch land, as well as, increase participation in USDA programs. This initiative provides a computerized model based on 20 years of research by Texas A&M University agricultural economists, in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University on this project. The CEP Extension specialists work one-on-one with producers to produce an individualized analysis that compares and contrasts the expected outcomes of different strategic actions for a farm or ranch by conducting a "what if" scenario. This will allow the producer to better address the question, "What is the best plan to follow given my current situation, as well as, the opportunities and risk that I face" This model allows the producer to look at a host of scenarios and how they will affect his operation, e.g., buying or leasing land or buying new or used equipment. The model can also be used to illustrate the different effects of participating in USDA Loan Programs and Crop Programs. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The end results of the FARM Outreach Program analysis is a ten-year financial and economic projection of the farm/ranch assuming a specific strategic plan of action (long term plan of operation). The Extension Specialist works with the producer to understand the types of information necessary for analysis and sets the stage for the producer to provide that information. Provide ongoing assistance from the risk during the data-gathering process. Assistance in determining specific farm/ranch business alternatives for analysis. Provides an easy-to-understand report and interpretation by the Extension Specialist. The report includes an executive summary, graphs and performance measures that meet the producer's information preferences, and projected financial statements for the farm business. Identification of how alternative strategic decisions impact farm/ranch business ventures under different risk situations. Follow-up access to the Extension Specialist to assess additional alternatives as needed.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1) Met with Dr. Steven Klose, Co-PI, to discuss goals and objectives of FARM OUTREACH Program at PVAMU (10/26/09). 2) Met with Dr. Steven Klose and Farm Assistance Staff at TAMU to get overview of how present Farm Assistance Program works (11/23/09). 3) Interview candidates for Program Specialist position that will assist in conducting FARM OUTREACH Program grant and act as Co-PI. 4) Started Development of computer model that will be used to collect and run projections for FARM OUTREACH Program (12/01/09). 5) Started training on computer model that will be used to collect data for the Computer Model. 6) Met with County Extension Agent Staff to explain objectives of Program and help to identify Producers to participate in Program (04/26/10). 7) Selected Dr. Gbenga Ojumu to fill position as Program Specialist (25%) Extension and work on FARM OUTREACH Program (06/15/10). 8) Conducted training with Dr. Steven Klose and Dr. Gbenga Ojumu on Computer Modeling Program (08/10/10). 9) Developed and obtained systems approval for Memorandum of Agreement for Participation in the Farm Assistance Program. 10) Developed "Information Requirements" sheet that producers will use to gather necessary inputs to conduct computer modeling. PARTICIPANTS: Conducted 1st FARM OUTREACH interview with Mr. Fred Steiner a cow/calf and hay producer in Liberty County Texas (11/16/10). Conducted 1st FARM OUTREACH interview with Mr. Richard Jacobs a hay producer in Waller County Texas (11/30/10). TARGET AUDIENCES: Conducted meeting with Landowners Association of Texas to discuss FARM OUTREACH Program and identify producers to enroll in program (10/07/10). Conducted meeting with 100 Ranchers Inc. to discuss FARM OUTREACH Program and identify producers to enroll in program (05/08/10). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Outcomes will be reported starting in year two of program.

Publications

• No publications reported this period