How to make a Successful
Risk Management Education
Grant Application
National Farm Business
Management Conference
June 13 - 17, 2010

Risk Management Overview

Request for Applications

Evaluation Criteria
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Risk:
Possible adverse event that has the
potential to interfere with:
 Business entity’s financial stability,
 Ability to achieve mission
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Universe of Risk:
 Production
 Marketing
 Financial
 Legal
 Human
Resources
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Risk Management:
◦ Tools and strategies reducing financial
effects of risk.
◦ Ability to run a business in rapidly changing
business environment.
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Extension Risk Management Education


Legislative Mandate
Education for
producers in the “full
range of risk
management
activities”
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2008 Farm Bill - Special Emphasis Groups:
A. Beginning Farmer - one who has not operated a farm or rancher for
more than 10 years
B. Legal Immigrant Farmers or Ranchers
C. Socially Disadvantaged –SDA groups include women, African
Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders.
D. Farmers or ranchers that are preparing to retire; and are using
transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started
E. New or established farmers or ranchers that are converting
production and marketing systems to pursue new markets
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Program Goal:
•
Participants in education programs
achieve specified risk management
results
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What are Proposed Risk Management
Results?
•
•
Measurable and verifiable risk management actions
that participants learn, achieve and apply
Within six months to a year
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•
A grant awarded is an investment made
by the North Central Risk Management
Education Center to help producers
achieve the proposed risk management
results.
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• Return
on investment: changed
behavior or actions taken by
participants resulting in increased
ability to manage risk.
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Size of Awards
•$5,000 to $50,000
•Regional Awards
•No set maximum from each category
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North Central RME Grant Categories
Unrestricted Competitive Grants
•
Projects addressing production, marketing, or financial
management
Human Resource
•
Farm succession, communication, labor issues
Value Added
•
Entrepreneurship and diversification
Special Emphasis Challenge Grants
•
Challenge grants are for those representing a special emphasis
group to establish collaboration and educational needs to create a
delivery plan for an educational program and apply for a
competitive grant in the 2011 grant cycle.
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Two-Step Process
Step One
 Pre-Proposal
 Due 5:00 PM CST, ???
 Applications reviewed by
Advisory Council
 Notification ???
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Two-Step Process
Step Two
 Full Application
 Due 5:00 PM CST, ???
 Applications reviewed by Advisory
Council
 Funded projects announced
???
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Project Time Line
• 12 Month Award
•
•
Start date July 1, 2011
End date June 30, 2012
• 6 month Extension (if requested)
•
End date December 31, 2012
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Proposed Results
40%
Results Verification
20%
Producer Demand
20%
Collaboration
10%
Wide Application
5%
Innovation
5%
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Proposed Results – 40%
• Clear identification/documentation
• Results achieved by participants
• Focus on participants’ actions not
activities
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Proposed Results



Single most important factor in funding
decisions
“What you anticipate participants will learn,
achieve and apply”
Specific, measurable and verifiable
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Looking at Proposed Results



What is the risk management improvement for
producers?
Is it a result vs. project step?
What is the producer action? Understand, Evaluate,
Develop, Decide or Implement?
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These are GOOD Proposed Results

Workshop attendees will begin developing a
written transfer plan

Participants will calculate breakeven prices for
their farm operation to successfully market grain

Participants will implement farm business transfer
strategies
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These are GOOD Proposed Results

Participants will implement a succession plan for
their farming operation.

Participants will understand how to select the
proper crop insurance product to match their
financial need and marketing plan.

Attendees will develop written goals for their
operation
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Proposed Results
These are NOT Risk Management Results:

Producers will attend workshop on..

Project will develop a workbook

Participants will visit our website to..

Final report will be submitted

Educators will be trained to deliver the program

End of workshop evaluation will be conducted
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Results Verification– 20%
• How and when will results be
measured?
• How will you verify risk management
results were achieved?
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Producer Demand - 20%
• Risk management need and
demand
•Will producers apply strategies and
tools taught?
• Show evidence producers will
participate
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How to improve?
 Sell your program to the Advisory Council by:
◦ Clearly stating the need for this program.
◦ Explaining why participants will want to participate.
◦ Explaining why the delivery methods you have chosen are
the best methods to reach your audience.
◦ Citing any survey or evaluation data which show
producers are committed to the program.
Collaboration – 10%
• Collaborators provide technical
expertise/knowledge
• Collaborators provide participant
access
• Collaborators play specific role
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Wide Application – 5%
• Can program and techniques be
applied elsewhere?
• Can materials and techniques be
adapted to other situations?
• Annie's, Winning the Game etc.
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Innovation – 5%
• Innovative approach and materials
building on existing knowledge
base.
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Link to the Application Site

North Central Risk Management
Education Website www.ncrme.org

http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/verific
ation/Default.aspx?G=NCCRME
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Getting Started
•Register New Project
•Enter Information
•Select Grants Program
(descriptions are on page 4
of the RFA)
•After registration:
Receive email with preproposal number and
password
•Log In to Pre-proposal
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Important Information
-Read this section
Registration Information -Update any changes
Proposed Results
Producer Demand
Audience Emphasis
Review Past Projects
Project Summary
Additional Regions
Amount Requested
Project Team
Final Checklist
Submit Pre-proposal
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Additional Regions

If you are applying to other
regions, check the
additional centers that you
are applying to.

Applications will be shared
across regions during the
proposal review process.

In your application only
include information that is
pertinent to the region you
are currently applying to.
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Helpful Suggestions
 Use the Proposal Resources
 Refer to the Instruction menus
 Avoid the 5:00 deadline
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THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
North Central RME Center Staff
Doug Jose, Director
Dave Goeller, Deputy Director
Cheryl Griffith, Project Specialist
Alissa Haines, Grants Coordinator
For questions concerning the Application Process please contact
Cheryl Griffith at 402-472-5740, cgriffith2@unl.edu
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