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Modernizing the USDA Risk Management Checklist for Women, Hispanic and Small-Scale Specialty Crop Producers

Winifred McGee, Lynn Kime, and Linda Falcone

Summary

The USDA Risk Management Checklist (RMC) has become a staple for farmers to assess the “health” of their business, related to the five areas of farm business risk. While this document continues to have great relevancy for traditional farmers, specialty crop growers transitioning to adding value and direct marketing experience additional needs. They must assess their level of food safety and electronic (internet) risk management - to ensure adequate planning for the impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act, online security threats, and website compliance with ADA. This presentation focuses on the 2018 USDA Risk Management Education Partnership Program funded initiative, Equipping Women, Hispanic and Small-Scale Specialty Crop Farmers in Pennsylvania and Maryland to Proactively Address Risk, in which farmer focus groups identified RMC items most needing attention, updating and addition, with an eye toward the present and future challenges they face. The result of these fact-finding sessions was an updated Checklist, and (upon learning that most producers prefer to self-educate) the construction of a companion RMC Users’ Guide, providing hot links to additional, applicable on-line resources. This session will provide a brief review of the project rationale and focus group findings, as well as an overview of how the use of resulting materials has impacted Pennsylvania and Maryland farmers’ ability to anticipate necessary risk management actions. Presentation participants will receive copies of the new checklist and guide, as well as brainstorm potential strategies to incorporate these resources, solicit feedback, and increase proactive risk management in their own communities.

Details

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