Completed Project Report


Educating Underserved and Socially Disadvantage Farmers on Risk Management and Mitigation

  • Award Amount: $99,996
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2021 Underserved Producer
  • Project Director: Ruben Martinez
  • Email: mart1097@msu.edu
  • Organization: Michigan State University, Samora Institute

Extension RME Regional Centers
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Project Overview

This project addressed production, financial, and human risk issues on the farms of beginning, limited resources and socially disadvantaged specialty crop farmers in Michigan. It focused on identifying and mitigating risks on farms, including the purchase of crop and disaster insurance. It included focus groups with producers and service providers to get a sense of their understanding of farm risks, risk mitigation approaches, and crop and disaster insurance. The results provided baseline knowledge of how producers and service providers understand risk and risk mitigation. We also conducted a digital survey of producers on farm risks, risk management, and risk mitigation. We provided risk mitigation education in English and Spanish to producers through session presentations at the Michigan Family Farms Conference, a hybrid workshop on distinguishing farm risk and uncertainty, and a webinar series. We scanned literature and online videos for inclusion on the Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) website. Producers can access links to information on farm insurance, Spanish- and English language videos, recorded presentations on social capital and risk management, and other resources made available on the MIFFS webpage. This project reached at least 115 beginning, limited resources and socially disadvantaged specialty crop farmers, many of them Latinos. 

Number of Participants: 115

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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