Dear Colleagues,
The Western Extension Risk Management Education Center is announcing three competitive funding opportunities for educational projects designed to help agricultural producers improve their economic viability through targeted risk management strategies. The Western Region ERME Center serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands.
The Extension Risk Management Education (ERME)program provides funding for outcome-based risk management education projects designed to help producers learn and use tools and approaches that can reduce the adverse effects of the uncertainties of weather, yields, prices, credit, government policies, global markets and other factors, including human resources and legal issues – all of which may result in wide swings in farm income or threaten the economic viability of the farm or ranch. The ERME program aspires to enhance farm and ranch profitability and viability by enabling producers to successfully manage these risks. Key objectives are to help producers understand the risks inherent in their operation, the methods and tools available to mitigate these risks, how to effectively use these methods and tools, and how to manage risk by implementing these methods and tools.
ERME is soliciting applications under the following program areas:
- Standard Education Projects: The long-term goals for Standard Education projects are to help producers achieve risk management outcomes that will improve their economic viability. Key objectives are to help producers understand the risks inherent in their operation, the methods and tools available to mitigate these risks, how to effectively use these methods and tools, and how to manage risk by implementing these methods and tools. Applications must articulate the primary source(s) of risk faced by their target audience and develop training activities that will help those producers take specific actions that generate measurable outcomes from managing these risks. The maximum award will be $50,000 with a grant duration of 18 months. 2.
- Exploratory Projects: These smaller, simplified grants are for the purpose of initiating new ideas through producer education programs which address farmer/rancher risk management education needs. Exploratory projects can be used to organize and host a producer education workshop or conference or be used for development projects that lead to application for a Standard Education project in a future year. The maximum award will be $5,000 with a grant duration of 18 months.
- Producers Underserved by Crop Insurance Grants: The long-term goals for Producers Underserved by Crop Insurance projects are to enhance farm and ranch profitability and economic viability by enabling producers underserved by crop insurance to successfully manage one or more of the five primary sources of agricultural risk. Project outcomes may include strategies other than crop insurance; however, the educational focus should align with enhanced understanding and use of crop insurance tools. Examples include recordkeeping, financial literacy, or marketing, as well as risk management strategies to use when a crop insurance program is not available or not applicable. The maximum award will be $100,000 with a grant duration of 18 months
As Western Center program priorities, ERME is particularly interested in education project applications that help farmers and ranchers enhance resiliency management. Additionally, collaborative projects are encouraged that strengthen relationships with participants that can build risk management capacity in the communities being served. For Producers Underserved by Crop Insurance projects, applications are encouraged to help producers implement integrated record keeping systems for improved risk management decision making and/or for using crop insurance programs. Projects are also encouraged to provide education assistance to producers in using crop insurance programs. The program encourages collaborative projects that strengthen relationships with participants and that can build risk management capacity in the communities being served. Lastly, the Center encourages exploratory project applications that initiate new ideas through producer education programs which address farmer/rancher risk management education needs.
The estimated project start date for all award types will be April 1, 2023.
For the full application requirements, please review the 2023 Request for Applications: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2162/2022/09/2023-ERME-Western-Center-RFA-.pdf. To apply, visit the Western Center website and from the “Funding” dropdown menu, select “Apply for Funding”: https://westrme.wsu.edu/apply-for-funding-open/. All applications must be submitted online through the Results Verification System (RVS): https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx
Please also consider participating in the Applicant Webinar scheduled on Thursday, September 29th at 1:00 PM PDT. Registration is not required. Join Zoom Meeting from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/92491588213?pwd=S2YyQlhzTEZrSkxRSG1PNG1aSVVtUT09
For questions about the Request for Applications, please contact Jo Ann Warner, 509-477-2168, warnerj@wsu.edu or Shannon Neibergs, 509-335-6360, sneibergs@wsu.edu.
Applications are due by November 17, 2022.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)