Aronia Berry Growers Planning Session Heidi Carter, Page County Extension Director Tim Eggers, Iowa State University Extension Field Agricultural Economist Annie’s Project – Understanding Revenue Policies is based upon work supported by USDA/FCIC Risk Management Agency under accounting number

Agenda 6:00 Purpose of meeting 6:10 Introductions 6:20 Annie’s Project video 6:30 Annie’s Project overview 6:45 Existing risk management materials 7:00 Break 7:10 Adaptation for Aronia Berry growers Format Topic mix Speakers matrix Dates, time, and location 7:50 Thank you and closing discussion

The mission of Annie's Project is to empower farm women to be better business partners through networks and by managing and organizing critical information..

Risk Management Production Risk Price or Market Risk Financial Risk Institutional and Legal Risk Human and Personal Risk

Basic AP Meeting Structure Six sessions during six weeks –Aronia Berry session added? Three hours per session Thursday evenings ½ Computer lab and ½ classroom Female agricultural professionals as presenters Light meals Tim as facilitator and backup instructor January 21-February 25, March 4 snow date Target class size 15, limit of 20

AP Level II Meeting Structure Six to nine hours in two or three sessions –Marketing, Financial, and Production Risk Computer lab when applicable Female agricultural professionals as presenters if possible Light meals Tim as facilitator and backup instructor Timing – pruning season is late March to early April? April 10 and 17 for Saturday program Target class size 10

Time for Discussion No more than one half the time in lecture

Five Major Risk Areas Production Risk –Crop Insurance –Livestock Insurance –Hail Insurance –Enterprise Diversification Price or Market Risk –Marketing Plans –Market Analysis –Cash Marketing –Aronia Berry Spot Market –Elevator Contracts –Aronia Berry Production Contracts –Marketing Access, cooling and hauling Aronia Berries

Five Major Risk Areas Financial Risk –Financial Documentation and Interpretation –Farm Service Agency Documentation and Programs –Enterprise Analysis –Aronia Berry Enterprise Budgets –Business Plans Institutional and Legal Risk –Estate Planning –Property Titling –Contract Arrangements –Aronia Berry Contracts –Business Structure and Liability Management –Tax Liability Management

Human and Personal Resource Risk –Communications and Personality Styles –Labor and Personnel Management –Life, Health, and Long-term Care Insurance –Safety and Disability Insurance Five Major Risk Areas

Funding Basic Annie’s Project $231/person cost –$3,600 Risk Management Agency –$50 per Participant User Fee 25# of Aronia Berries Annie’s Project Level II (estimated) $135/person cost –$1,700 Risk Management Agency –$50 per Participant User Fee 25# of Aronia Berries

Kaskaskia College, Centralia, Illinois 2003 First class of Basic AP

Current Program Status

Production Risk Understand insurance options and be able to evaluate them for fit to the operation Price or Market Risk Examine available markets and price expectations End of Class Impacts - Basic

Financial Risk Increase bargaining power when working with a lender and accuracy in projecting profits Institutional and Legal Risk Evaluate estate plan and update if necessary End of Class Impacts - Basic

Human and Personal Risk Increase communication skills when working with professionals to meet individual and farm business goals End of Class Impacts - Basic

Production Risk Evaluate hail insurance or other private insurance for fit to the operation Price or Market Risk Sawmill Hollow, Superberry, or Other ? Delivery options, timing and quantity End of Class Impacts – Level II

Financial Risk Adjust annual enterprise budgets and compare projections to actual profits ? Institutional and Legal Risk End of Class Impacts – Level II

? Human and Personal Risk Increase communication skills when working with professionals, employees, and family members to meet individual and farm business goals End of Class Impacts – Level II

Long-term Impacts Increased confidence in decision making Become better farm managers and business partners Expand network of peers and professional service providers