Completed Project Report


Managing Risk through Changing Climate and Market Environments in the Southern Appalachians

  • Award Amount: $50,000
  • Regional Center: Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2023 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Molly Nicholie
  • Email: molly@asapconnections.org
  • Organization: Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)

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Project Overview

This project supported over 270 small-scale, limited resource, sustainably producing family farmers in the Southern Appalachians to plan and implement marketing and financial risk management strategies. The project served farmers at every stage, from new and beginning to those retiring/transitioning out, with support for determining when to scale up or scale down farm businesses. Special emphasis was placed on managing risks associated with climate change, and communicating climate-smart practices to consumers. The project conducted four farmer- to-farmer learning sessions, one full-day conference, and 70 one-on-one consultation/coaching sessions. The conference included nine workshops covering risk management and a grower-buyer meeting, to help farmers manage marketing risk, build connections with area buyers, and better understand opportunities to expand into new markets. Addressing multiple aspects of risk management for small farm businesses with a variety of group training/networking, market connections, and one-on-ones gave this project a unique holistic approach.The combined expertise and partnerships of lead organization ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) and Mountain BizWorks built the capacity of farmers to assess and manage farm risks and access new and existing resources. Tools and resources were shared with over 850 farms and through partner networks.




Number of Participants: 271

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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