Farm Risk Ma nagement In- service Programs in the Northeast Wesley N. Musser, University of Maryland H. Don Tilmon, University of Delaware

Farm Management Extension in the Northeast Number of Specialists Declining Number of Specialists Declining Some New England States Have None Some New England States Have None Larger Role for County and Regional Personnel Larger Role for County and Regional Personnel Need for In-services Need for In-services Most States Can Not Provide Comprehensive Programs Most States Can Not Provide Comprehensive Programs

Regional In-services Northeast Farm Management Extension Committee In-sevices Northeast Farm Management Extension Committee In-sevices Held Throughout Northeast Region Held Throughout Northeast Region Intent Was to Provide Training for All Extension Personnel in the Northeast Intent Was to Provide Training for All Extension Personnel in the Northeast Summer 1999 and 2003 Summer 1999 and 2003

Objectives of This Presentation Introduce Content and Organization: Introduce Content and Organization: Organization Organization Planning Planning Agenda and Speakers Agenda and Speakers Funding Funding

Horticultural Risk Management All States Have Hort Enterprises All States Have Hort Enterprises Several Specialists Have Expertise Several Specialists Have Expertise Provide Coverage in Northeast, Virginia, and North Carolina (Eastern Corn Belt) Provide Coverage in Northeast, Virginia, and North Carolina (Eastern Corn Belt) Sites were Batavia NY, Springfield MA, Lancaster PA, Hagarstown MD, and Richmond VA (Fort Wayne IN) Sites were Batavia NY, Springfield MA, Lancaster PA, Hagarstown MD, and Richmond VA (Fort Wayne IN) Publicity through Ag Program Leaders Publicity through Ag Program Leaders Notebooks for Paricipants Notebooks for Paricipants

Choice of Site State Specialists Recommended Local Extension Contacts for Recommendations for Sites State Specialists Recommended Local Extension Contacts for Recommendations for Sites Motels Used Regularly for Extension Meetings Motels Used Regularly for Extension Meetings Facilitated Out-of State Arrangements Facilitated Out-of State Arrangements

Topics Horticulture in the Northeast: Challenges and Opportunities Horticulture in the Northeast: Challenges and Opportunities Willingness to Assume Risk Willingness to Assume Risk Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan (Fruit) Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan (Fruit) Why Should I Buy Crop Insurance? Why Should I Buy Crop Insurance? Legal Risk Legal Risk Fruit Irrigation Fruit Irrigation

Topics, Continued Apple Crop Insurance Apple Crop Insurance Seasonal Labor Risk Seasonal Labor Risk Risk in Ornamentals (Finance) Risk in Ornamentals (Finance) Crop Insurance for Nursery Crops Crop Insurance for Nursery Crops Risk in Vegetables (Production) Risk in Vegetables (Production) Coverage of All Hort Commodities and Five Major Sources of Risk

Presenters Gerald White, Cornell, 1, 3, & 6 Gerald White, Cornell, 1, 3, & 6 Wesley Musser, Maryland, 2 & 8 Wesley Musser, Maryland, 2 & 8 Robin Brumfield, Rutgers, 9 Robin Brumfield, Rutgers, 9 Jay Harper, Penn State, 11 Jay Harper, Penn State, 11 Ted Feitshan, NC State, video, 5 Ted Feitshan, NC State, video, 5 RMA Representatives, 4, 7, & 10 RMA Representatives, 4, 7, & 10 Don Tilmon, Delaware, Coordinator Don Tilmon, Delaware, Coordinator

Timing June June Began at 10AM Began at 10AM Ended at 12AM the Next Day Ended at 12AM the Next Day Travel AM First Day and PM Second Day Travel AM First Day and PM Second Day Two Days for Most Local Participants Two Days for Most Local Participants Only One Night Lodging Only One Night Lodging Did Immerse Participants in Subject Did Immerse Participants in Subject

Specialists’ Travel NY Site Thursday and Friday with Travel on Wed. for Some NY Site Thursday and Friday with Travel on Wed. for Some MA Site Next Tuesday and Wednesday and PA Site Thursday and Friday MA Site Next Tuesday and Wednesday and PA Site Thursday and Friday MD Site Next Tuesday and Wednesday and VA Site Thursday and Friday MD Site Next Tuesday and Wednesday and VA Site Thursday and Friday Travel on Monday, Wed. and Friday Second Two Weeks Travel on Monday, Wed. and Friday Second Two Weeks Only Three Weeks Devoted to Project Only Three Weeks Devoted to Project Planning Meetings with RMA Conference Planning Meetings with RMA Conference

Funding Participants Paid Minimal Travel Costs Participants Paid Minimal Travel Costs Grants for Specialists’ Travel, Notebooks, On-Site Costs Grants for Specialists’ Travel, Notebooks, On-Site Costs Grants from RMA, CSREES, and Farm Foundation Grants from RMA, CSREES, and Farm Foundation

Agricultural Risk and Business Management In-Service, 2003 Same Organization and Timing Same Organization and Timing CD and Notebook to Participants CD and Notebook to Participants Grant from Northeast Center for Risk Management Education at UDE Grant from Northeast Center for Risk Management Education at UDE Confined to NE Confined to NE Wesley Musser, Coordinator Wesley Musser, Coordinator Planning Meeting in Baltimore, 9/02 Planning Meeting in Baltimore, 9/02

Sites and Dates (1) Lake Morey, Vermont - August (1) Lake Morey, Vermont - August (2) Morgantown, West Virginia, August (2) Morgantown, West Virginia, August (3) Erie, Pennsylvania, August (3) Erie, Pennsylvania, August (4) Albany, New York, August (4) Albany, New York, August (5) Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August (5) Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August

Agenda and Speakers 1. Introduction: Risks Farmers Face – Wesley N. Musser, University of Maryland 1. Introduction: Risks Farmers Face – Wesley N. Musser, University of Maryland 2. Introduction: Why Business Planning? – Jerry White, Cornell University 2. Introduction: Why Business Planning? – Jerry White, Cornell University 3. Enterprise Analysis – Jayson Harper, Penn State University 3. Enterprise Analysis – Jayson Harper, Penn State University 4. Cost Accounting – Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University 4. Cost Accounting – Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University 5. Financial Statements – Bob Parsons, University of Vermont 5. Financial Statements – Bob Parsons, University of Vermont

Agenda and Speakers, Continued 6. Benchmark Analysis – Jerry White, Cornell University 6. Benchmark Analysis – Jerry White, Cornell University 7. Market Access – Wen-fei Uva/Brian Henehan, Cornell University 7. Market Access – Wen-fei Uva/Brian Henehan, Cornell University 8. Human Resources and Risk – Wesley Musser, University of Maryland 8. Human Resources and Risk – Wesley Musser, University of Maryland 9. Estate Planning and Asset Transfer – Mike Sciabarrasi, University of New Hampshire 9. Estate Planning and Asset Transfer – Mike Sciabarrasi, University of New Hampshire 10. Federal Programs Update – Don Tilmon, University of Delaware 10. Federal Programs Update – Don Tilmon, University of Delaware

Summary: Logic of Regional In- services Many States Do Not Have Personnel for Comprehensive Programs Many States Do Not Have Personnel for Comprehensive Programs Extension Personnel Obtain Training from Specialists Throughout Region Extension Personnel Obtain Training from Specialists Throughout Region Specialists Had Diverse Interests and Knowledge Specialists Had Diverse Interests and Knowledge

Summary: Key Features of Workshops Workshops Throughout Region Workshops Throughout Region Sites Chosen By Local Extension Sites Chosen By Local Extension Held in Summer Held in Summer Travel and Workshop in Two Days Travel and Workshop in Two Days Tuesday-Friday Schedule for Three Weeks Tuesday-Friday Schedule for Three Weeks Notebook and CD Notebook and CD

Summary: Importance of Risk Management Funding On-site Costs Covered On-site Costs Covered Travel for Specialists Travel for Specialists Handouts for Participants Handouts for Participants Other Grants if Funds Not Available Other Grants if Funds Not Available

Summary: Value for Specialists Farm Management Committee Had No Meetings Since Farm Foundation Support Ended Farm Management Committee Had No Meetings Since Farm Foundation Support Ended Committee Largely for Information Exchange Committee Largely for Information Exchange In-services Created Community of Interest In-services Created Community of Interest Learn Expertise and Strengths of Colleagues Learn Expertise and Strengths of Colleagues Built Personal Relationships Built Personal Relationships Facilitated Other Collaborative Relationships Facilitated Other Collaborative Relationships

Summary: Adaptation to Other Regions Content and/or Organization Content and/or Organization Larger Regions Larger Regions More Sessions or Longer Travel for Participants More Sessions or Longer Travel for Participants One Day Program if More Sessions— Specialist Travel Time? One Day Program if More Sessions— Specialist Travel Time? More Funding for Participant Travel More Funding for Participant Travel NE Committee Members Can Provide More Detailed Information