Risk Management Training Opportunities Resulting from TAA for Catfish Terry Hanson, Jimmy Avery, John Anderson, and Gregg Ibendahl Mississippi State University Extension Service

Congress extends Foreign Agricultural Service’s TAA program to include farmers and fishermen Producers of raw commodities, who have been adversely affected by import competition, are eligible for:  Technical assistance – USDA Extension Service  Cash benefits – USDA Farm Service Agency  Education Assistance – US Dept. of Labor  Business Assistance – US Dept. of Commerce Farm-raised Catfish was certified eligible in 18 states on November 17, 2003 TAA Background

Commodity Certified Application Deadline Training Deadline Application FSACompletion of FSA Documentation Documentation Deadline and Extended Training 2/17/045/17/04 9/30/04 11/17/03 12/31/03 Technical AssistanceProductsProgram Products Deadline

Core Writing Team  Avery, Hanson, and Anderson - MSU Advisory and Review Panel  Jesse Chappel, Auburn University  Jerry Crews, Auburn University  Carole Engle, University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff  David Heikes, University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff  Greg Lutz, Louisiana State University  Mike Masser, Texas A&M University  Jim Tidwell, Kentucky State University University of Minnesota Digital Center TAA Product Development

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) For Farmers CATFISH Technical Assistance 2003 / 2004 Overview Program Deadlines Training Sessions Online Course Other Resources Resources ©2004 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. TAA Products: On-Line Course

* 230 Slides with Narration notes TAA Products: PowerPoint Presentation* for Educators

TAA Products: Curriculum Guide

No cost to producer Producers must have access to training in the county in which they reside Each applicant must receive the same quality of training Training Requirements

Unofficial Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Survey (MASS)estimate:  Potential of 646 producers in 60 counties Official MASS reported producers:  405 producers Potential Clientele

60 County Directors, Area Agents, and Specialists Taught by Distance Learning Required to advertise deadlines and all training opportunities Provided with DVD/Video, curriculum guides, evaluation forms, and certification forms Received professional training credits if they passed performance evaluation Train-the-Trainer

Help Advertise/Promote Regional Meetings  Local paper, newsletter, mail out  Urge farmers to attend regional meetings Provide Training for “Walk-ins” Keep track of expenses and efforts Trainer Responsibility

Regional Meetings  Delta Research & Extension Center  Central MS Research & Extension Center  MSU Campus County Meetings Walk-ins Training Opportunities

152 applicants in 18 Mississippi counties 122 Mississippi applicants (80%) received training  Regional meetings = 100  County Training = 22 3 out-of-state applicants were trained  Arkansas = 2  Louisiana = 1 Clientele Served

* 76% response rate Training Evaluation*

Training Evaluation

86 applicants (57%) received payments $260,444 paid Average payment = $3,028 per applicant 86.8 million lbs or 1 million lbs per applicant 240 acres per applicant Payments

Maintaining communication with FSA  Status of applicants  Training Deadline Extension Dept. of Commerce Labor training void Fee for Service Contract Training in other seafood commodities Problems

Grant from SRRMEC to conduct follow up training of TAA participants  First step was a survey to ascertain training priorities and preferred delivery methods TAA Follow-up

Follow-up Survey Results Survey respondents indicated interest in receiving more in-depth training on financial planning/management and ways to improve production efficiency There was no clear consensus on the preferred method for receiving this information, though workshops and publications were both fairly highly rated

Additional Training Plans This summer, workshops will be conducted to build on information presented in the TAA program  Two workshops: MS Delta & East MS production regions  Focus will be on financial planning/management and improving production systems  A series of new extension publications is being prepared to accompany this training

Other TAA Benefits Opportunities for multi-disciplinary extension publications and meetings Acquainting more catfish producers with agricultural economics faculty and programs Providing important feedback on producer needs in terms of extension information and programs