Extension Risk Management Education is delivered through four regional centers that provide grant funding and leadership within their regions. The Western Extension Risk Management Education Center is hosted by Washington State University, the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center is hosted at the University of Delaware, and the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center is hosted by the University of Arkansas. A fifth center for communication and on-line administration is hosted at the University of Minnesota.
Projects are 18 months in length and are designed to help producers learn new strategies to manage the agricultural risks they face. The goal is simple…give farmers and ranchers the tools to improve their risk management skills and capabilities. Projects address the five general types of risk associated with farm and ranch businesses: production, marketing, financial, legal, and human risks. Funded projects are producer-focused, results-based and encourage public-private partnerships and must identify targeted results that will help producers manage risk and then describe how the project will measure those results. Each project must be completed within 18 months, April 1 to September 30. Awards range from $5,000 to a maximum of $50,000. Applicants may also apply for $5,000 Exploratory Projects.
Extension Risk Management Education has funded innovative programs that have generated tangible results for producers in every state.