THE FARM AND RANCH SURVIVAL KIT PROGRAM Susan Kerr, WSU-Klickitat County Extension Brian Tuck, OSU-Wasco County Extension Service Cheryl Cosner, Oregon Livestock Producer

Location

Situation/Issues Facing Clientele

Need for financial management education, but... Discomfort discussing financial issues in a public forum Discomfort discussing financial issues in a public forum Time pressures Time pressures Distance/travel costs Distance/travel costs Age--driving at night Age--driving at night Workshop costs Workshop costs Varied needs Varied needs

Discussion with producers; developed concept of Farm & Ranch Survival Kit (FRSK) Discussion with producers; developed concept of Farm & Ranch Survival Kit (FRSK) WSU/OSU cooperative effort WSU/OSU cooperative effort Obtained a grant from the Western Center for Risk Management Education Obtained a grant from the Western Center for Risk Management Education Hired program coordinator Hired program coordinator Sent direct mailing to 1200 ag, forest and open space landowners in Mid-Columbia Sent direct mailing to 1200 ag, forest and open space landowners in Mid-Columbia 165 officially enrolled; many more participants 165 officially enrolled; many more participants Program Development Process

Participants Commercial operators Small acreage operators

Outputs (Program Activities)

A. Newsletter installments 1. Business planning 2. Financial planning 3. Interpersonal relationships 4. Farm succession 5. Taxes and insurance planning 6. Marketing

B. Web page development 1. Subset of Small Farms web site 2. oregonstate.edu/wasco/ smallfarms/ RiskManagement.php

C. Workshops Ranching for profit 65 Farm succession 50 Winegrape production, vineyard establishment and vineyard management 100 Livestock workshop 35 Partial budgeting 13 Analyzing agricultural investments 13 Evaluating land lease agreements 14 Crop profitability analysis 7 Machinery costs 10 Hay growers workshop 35 Direct marketing workshop 11

Outcomes (Impacts)

30% response rate 30% response rate Respondents from 16 different counties in the Northwest; owned and/or managed 28 different agricultural enterprises; represented 77,220 acres under management Respondents from 16 different counties in the Northwest; owned and/or managed 28 different agricultural enterprises; represented 77,220 acres under management On a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being none and 5 being a great deal), how much useful knowledge did you gain as a result of your participation in this project? 3.78 On a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being none and 5 being a great deal), how much useful knowledge did you gain as a result of your participation in this project? 3.78 Evaluation via Survey

Decrease overhead. Decrease overhead. Invest more time looking at business to see what is losing money. Invest more time looking at business to see what is losing money. Eliminate non-profitable enterprises. Eliminate non-profitable enterprises. Begin estate planning and meet with family members to discuss issues of succession and find out what next generations expectations might be. Begin estate planning and meet with family members to discuss issues of succession and find out what next generations expectations might be. Make educated decisions vs. guesses and hope! Make educated decisions vs. guesses and hope! I will be able to provide better information when approaching my lending institution. I can project which crops would be best for our land. I will be able to provide better information when approaching my lending institution. I can project which crops would be best for our land. Get my husband to figure out if its cost effective to buy machinery or farm. Get my husband to figure out if its cost effective to buy machinery or farm. What will you do differently following this workshop?

Started/completed a business plan (14) Started/completed a business plan (14) Holding regular family meetings (7) Holding regular family meetings (7) Analyzed my financial situation with my lender (10) Analyzed my financial situation with my lender (10) Started/completed an estate/succession plan (16) Started/completed an estate/succession plan (16) Made changes to better manage stressful periods in my life (13) Made changes to better manage stressful periods in my life (13) Reviewed my insurance policies to determine if I have appropriate coverage (17) Reviewed my insurance policies to determine if I have appropriate coverage (17) Started/completed a change in our business structure (7) Started/completed a change in our business structure (7) Started/completed a marketing plan for my farm or ranch (11) Started/completed a marketing plan for my farm or ranch (11) What changes have you made as a result of your participation in this project?

Extension educators at the Louisiana State University AgCenter use farm succession materials from the FRSKExtension educators at the Louisiana State University AgCenter use farm succession materials from the FRSK The Farm Family Support Network has linked to the FRSK Web siteThe Farm Family Support Network has linked to the FRSK Web site The Wyoming Department of Agriculture included the FRSK farm succession installment in their Estate Planning Handbook for agricultural producersThe Wyoming Department of Agriculture included the FRSK farm succession installment in their Estate Planning Handbook for agricultural producers Other Outcomes

Other Outcomes cont The FRSK program won the 2007 National Association of County Agriculture Agents Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management AwardThe FRSK program won the 2007 National Association of County Agriculture Agents Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management Award The FRSK program was featured in the national Successful Farming Radio Magazine, broadcast to 1.25 million listeners in 22 Midwestern states and linked to their Web siteThe FRSK program was featured in the national Successful Farming Radio Magazine, broadcast to 1.25 million listeners in 22 Midwestern states and linked to their Web site The FRSK program will be featured in an upcoming issue of the WCRMEs newsletterThe FRSK program will be featured in an upcoming issue of the WCRMEs newsletter

Quotes from Participants

I feel like I went from knowing nothing to be able to make intelligent decisions. I feel like I went from knowing nothing to be able to make intelligent decisions. Were holding family meetings to discuss goals and objectives for use of our family property. Also working with financial planner to look at long-term financial objectives. Were holding family meetings to discuss goals and objectives for use of our family property. Also working with financial planner to look at long-term financial objectives. We have prioritized what needs to be done first in setting up our farm. We are starting from scratchas in bare land with no improvements. We have prioritized what needs to be done first in setting up our farm. We are starting from scratchas in bare land with no improvements. Very good information. Real world stuff. Will have a value when used. Very good information. Real world stuff. Will have a value when used. Useful and practical info. Seems transferable to various situations and enterprises. Very convenient program. Useful and practical info. Seems transferable to various situations and enterprises. Very convenient program.

Future Directions

WA-OR Farm Succession program: $30,000 from the Western Center for Risk Management Education WA-OR Farm Succession program: $30,000 from the Western Center for Risk Management Education NxLevel ® and Cultivating Success ® programs NxLevel ® and Cultivating Success ® programs Development of livestock enterprise budgets Development of livestock enterprise budgets County economic development funding requests for agricultural programming County economic development funding requests for agricultural programming Financial management and estate planning educational program partnerships with community colleges and Small Business Development Centers Financial management and estate planning educational program partnerships with community colleges and Small Business Development Centers

Questions?