The Center actively seeks and provides opportunity and access for input on Center direction and programs especially the competitive grants program. Producers, educators, and organizations participate in the Center guidance and advisory process through monthly conference calls, and a newsletter published at least quarterly via the Web, email, and hard copy. One or more Internet list serves will be established and actively used (one has been already established that was used to develop this proposal), and Center staff will attend annual commodity group meetings, professional development meetings, and regional RME programs. A Web based interactive chat process on selected risk topics will be established by December 2001 as well as a Web based calendar of regional RME events and activities.

Competitive Grants Awarded by the Western Center for Risk Management Education, June 2002 (FY 2001 Funds). Educational activities to be delivered August 2002 to June 2003.

Succession Planning, Washington State University Cooperative Extension - Jay Jenkins and Margaret Viebrock

The target audience consists of farm families in North Central Washington. The project will assist families to develop succession plans and reduce the economic risk associated with the intergenerational transfer of a family farm. By involving multiple learning opportunities, customers will improve inter-generational communications and have a detailed written plan for the successful transfer of their business assets.

Strategic and Business Planning, Agri-Ventures - Jim DuBruille (Jim is also Instructor/Director of The Orchard Business Management Program at Wenatchee Valley College, Wenatchee, WA)

Tree fruit producers in Washington State are the target audience for this project. Financial advisors will work with farm managers to create an outcome centered, comprehensive business and marketing plan that will be used to make decisions and guide the business toward improving profitability and long term viability. The development of this plan will be supported by education and analytical tools that engage the customer in all phases of their operation at a higher level and creates a change in mindset from reactive to empowered.

Managing Market Risks with Certification/Branding, University of Arizona with U.C. Davis, Colorado State University, University of Hawaii, and Utah State University - Russell Tronstad, Project Director

The first and primary focus of this project will be the development of a highly pragmatic publication for agricultural producers on certification considerations as a strategy to maximize returns and minimize price fluctuations (Natural Beef and Certified Angus Beef are two examples of "certified/branded" products). Face-to-face educational programs will be implemented through team members and/or extension agents. Training and educational events will be largely integrated into ongoing marketing and food safety extension programs that each of the project members have underway in their respective states.

Learning Risk Management Through Risk Simulation Gaming, University of Wyoming with the University of Arizona, Colorado State University, University of Idaho, University of Nevada - Reno, and Utah State University - John Hewlett, Project Director

This project is a collaborative effort of Extension specialists in 5 Intermountain States. The educational effort will focus on having livestock producers evaluate various risk management strategies using a risk management simulation/game using a portable, wireless computer lab. Multiple educational sessions will be held in each of the 5 states. The lab will allow customers to use several different programs designed for improved decision making and planning skills. The second component is the development of an internet version of a risk management game. The internet version will allow participants to continue their education after attending an on-site presentation or to begin learning on their own.

Using Crop Insurance and other Production Risk Management Strategies, Montana State University with the University of Wyoming - Gary Brester, Project Director

This project will develop and deliver education materials to explain and facilitate the effective use of production risk management tools for alternative crops in the irrigated crop areas of southcentral and eastern Montana and northern Wyoming. Materials will also be developed to explain and facilitate the use of price risk management tools and business management strategies.

Business and Strategic Planning, Oregon State University - Bart Eleveld

This program will consist of a series of workshops designed to help operators prepare detailed farm/ranch business plans that will be useful for strategic planning as well as applying for financing or attracting and informing potential investors about their business enterprise.

Successful Employee/Employer Training in Spanish, University of California - Ramiro Lobo and Eta Takele

The main activity of this project is to organize a Farm Personnel Supervisor Training in Spanish. This activity will be a two day training workshop for farm managers and supervisors in an effort to explore methods and regulations for acquiring, managing and stabilizing the labor force so the risks associated with labor shortages and costly acquisitions are minimized for the growers.

Managing Risk Using Effective Cost Accounting, Wittman Consulting Services in cooperation with the University of Idaho and a group of Camas Prairie Farmers - Dick Wittman, Project Director

The project will work with direct seed producers to develop financial management systems specifically designed around the direct seed technology. Few farmers can professionally analyze their cost of production. If producers have a poor return on investment, it is rare if they can pinpoint the cause Project customers see the power this program can give them to make better operating and strategic decisions. Analyzing specific factors that influence cost of production is a critical pre-requisite to isolating better strategic alternatives.

Helping Organic Producers Manage Risk, New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission - Joan Quinn and Joran Viers

Risk Management strategies will be the theme of The New Mexico Organic Farming Conference. Workshops will be conducted on managing market risks, production risks, and developing a risk management plan.

Small Farms Business and Strategic Planning, FACTS - David Visher and Marcie Rosenzweig

FACTS builds capacity within farm/ranch families and the local ag community by using a collaborative, community based model to deliver regionally tailored courses in business planning and management skills specifically for agriculturalists. This program encourages the family to attend together. They can discuss why they farm and what they desire, individually and collectively, from farming using course worksheets. Assignments ask families to explore their social, economic and resource sustainability needs. The families may also discuss confidential farm and family information outside the classroom by taking advantage of one on one time with instructors and partner speakers.

Managing Market Risk through Commodity Challenge, Montana Grain Growers Association with Montana State University, Texas A&M, and the University of Minnesota - Alex Offerdahl, Project Director

Grain producers in Montana, Texas, and Minnesota will participate in this program. Commodity Challenge is a real-time interactive marketing simulation delivered over the Internet. In this simulation, participants start with a given quantity of several commodities to market in a local cash market and using exchange-traded futures and options contracts. Users submit trades and receive account reports through a web-based interface. Costs for storing grain and brokerage fees for futures/options transactions are applied to make the exercise realistic.

Managing Dairy Risks, University of Idaho - C. Wilson Gray, Project Director

Achieving Risk Management Success (ARMS) is an integrated approach to introduce key concepts to dairymen about risk management. Using ARMS in three successive classes, dairy producers learn key factors that provide a firm basis for evaluating market conditions and selection of appropriate marketing strategies. The targeted customers come from dairy operations and allied industry fieldmen in Southern Idaho.

Risk Management for PNW Barley Producers, Idaho Barley Commission - Kelly Olson, Project Director

This project consists of a multi-faceted educational program providing risk management knowledge and technical information. Target areas include 1) developing and implementing marketing plans, 2) assessing new marketing opportunities and strategies, 3) improving management and decision making and 4) increasing use of crop insurance products. The program is delivered using a minimum of six satellite downlink locations throughout the state of Idaho. There is also web based resource materials, including a new risk management feature in our weekly Idaho Grain Market Report and a crop insurance worksheet that each producer can tailor to their own farming operation.

RME Projects awarded September 2001 with the original award to the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Western Center for Risk management Education. Educational activities delivered October 2001 to June 2002 (FY 2001 funds).

Farm Employer's Handbook, University of Arizona with Washington State University, University of Hawaii, University of Wyoming, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University-Trent Teegerstrom, Project Director

The handbook will be published with six main parts: 1 Introduction to roles and responsibilities of a farm/ranch employer; 2 Organizational planning, structure, and regulatory context; 3 Recruiting, selecting, and hiring employees; 4 Supervision and leadership at work; 5 Performance management and pay; and 6 Communications and problem solving. This handbook is a collaborative effort of 8 Extension Specialists with funding through the University of Arizona.

Marketing Risks for Unusual Enterprises, University of Arizona with Washington State University, University of Hawaii, University of Wyoming, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University-Trent Teegerstrom, Project Director

A publication using the case study approach focusing on managing the risks associated with direct marketing. This publication will provide a resource that can be used across the region with small and limited resource producers as well as more traditional producers who are considering diversification from bulk non-differentiated commodity production to niche markets. A collaborative effort of 9 Extension Specialists again funded through the University of Arizona.

Beef Cow Risk Management Education, University of Arizona with Washington State University, University of Hawaii, University of Wyoming, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Oregon State University, and Colorado State University-Trent Teegerstrom, Project Director

A three state education project for beef cow producers will be conducted under the leadership of the University of Arizona in cooperation with Specialists in Utah and an area Extension Agent in Nevada. Hands on computer workshops providing at least 4 hours of hands on training will be provided.

Public/Private Partnerships, Montana Grain Growers Association-Richard Owen, Executive Vice President

The Montana Grain Growers Association will facilitate public-private partnerships on behalf of the Center throughout the Western Region. In addition, the MGGA in partnership with Montana State University and the assistance of Texas A&M, will develop and implement intermediate and advanced marketing and risk management workshops in four regionally dispersed locations in Montana.

Risk Management Education for Idaho Producers, University of Idaho-Paul E. Patterson, Principal Investigator

A three part project designed to: 1) increase the capacity of area extension educators in the risk management training areas of estate planning, dealing with financial stress, and managing the financial risks associated with machinery costs; 2) conduct price risk workshops for Idaho grain producers; and 3) conduct cost of production workshops for Idaho potato producers.

Business Plans as a RME Tool, Oregon State University-Bart Eleveld, Extension Economist

A project in the Hood River and Wasco valleys, areas of tree fruit production experiencing unusually low prices, and in the Klamath Falls area where curtailment of irrigation water is a major issue. The project will focus on assisting producers to develop a comprehensive farm business plan.

Risk Management Programming for Dairy Operations in the Western Region, Utah State University-E. Bruce Godfrey, Principal Investigator

Utah State in collaboration with the University of Idaho, the University of Arizona, and UC Davis will conduct workshops in Utah, Idaho, California, and Arizona using risk management materials acquired from other regions and modified for western use. In addition they will develop a Western Region Dairy Web page linking the producers and educators in the region to key dairy management resources across the web.

Bi-Lingual Risk Management Education Workshops, University of California, Riverside-Eta Takele and Ramiro Lobo ,Project Directors

This project is targeted at small and limited resource farmers. The first will be conducted in the southern California region providing workshops in Spanish and English on a range of issues designed to improve the risk management skills of small and limited resource producers in the three county area of Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura Counties.

Risk Management Information/Education Modules for California Small and Moderate Scale Farm and Ranch Options, University of California, Davis-Desmond Jolly, Agricultural Economist

Dr. Desmond Jolly, Director of the UC Davis Small Farm Center, will develop educational modules on things to know to reduce the risk in purchasing a farm, understanding production and marketing contracts, reducing the liability exposure from direct marketing, and managing risks in agri & eco tourism operations.

Risk and Resilience in Agriculture Education Project in Colorado, Colorado State University-Dennis A. Kaan, Principal Investigator

Workshops for programs during the 2001/02 program season on strategic planning which will assist participants in developing risk management action plans. An evaluation of the impact of the program and the identification of preferences and priority program needs for following program years.

Growers Convention Workshops, Oregon Wheat Growers League-Tammy L. Dennee, Director of Member Services

The Oregon Wheat Growers League will conduct risk management training on Managing input expenses, market risks and issues of bio-engineered crops, challenges, risks, and benefits of Identity-Preserved and niche marketing, and managing work environment risk.