Completed Project Report


Financial Analysis and Benchmarking Education; Tools for Risk Management for South Central Utah Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

  • Award Amount: $49,925
  • Regional Center: Western Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2011 Competitive Grant Program

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Project Overview

Participants in this project participated in a workshop introducing benchmarking as a management tool. Workshops focused on identifying your own business’s benchmarks and learning to use FINBIN® as a source for acquiring current industry high producer benchmarks. Emphasis was placed on benchmarks of the top-producing businesses. Individual instruction focused on interpreting benchmarks, identifying variances, and developing management strategies that will improve the financial success of the business and reduce financial risks through diversification, resource risk reduction, and debt reduction strategies. Within 30 days, 22 out of 24 participants completing their FINAN® report identified areas to improve in their businesses and developed a management strategy to improve their benchmarks. During the measurement phase of the one-on-one consultations, many producers were forced to focus their management efforts on producing all they could through a very dry summer and finding alternative summer and fall forage due to drought and fires. As a result, they were not able to fully implement or monitor their management plans during the 2012 production year. Extension of the grant through December 2012 allowed for continued one-on-one consultations to begin building next year’s strategic plan and evaluate all options for managing costs due to drought and fire.

Number of Participants: 103

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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