This project included education, training, and one-one-one business technical assistance (1:1 BTA) supporting participants in considering and applying for RMA's Micro Farm insurance program, including managing their record keeping in order to apply and submit a claim, information on tax implications, and education on alternative RMA and USDA risk management products.
The target audience was underserved farmers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Project components included interactive in-person and online educational and training sessions, videos, self-guided online tools, and 1:1 BTA to support risk management planning and Micro Farm enrollment. Components were designed to sequentially increase in length and depth of information. Farmers had the opportunity to participate in all components while also receiving the opportunity and support to move forward with their Micro Farm application/enrollment at any point they desired.
In the last quarter of this project, we began to create longer-term materials and improved our ability to effectively deliver that support “on demand”. In September of 2023, the USDA announced more changes to the WFRP and Micro Farm programs. We pivoted to understanding the changes, assessing their impacts, and planning how to best incorporate new information into our ongoing resources and support for farmers to apply in the future.