THE FARM AND RANCH THE FARM AND RANCH SURVIVAL KIT PROGRAMSURVIVAL KIT PROGRAM

Susan Kerr, WSUSusan Kerr, WSU--Klickitat County ExtensionKlickitat County ExtensionBrian Tuck, OSUBrian Tuck, OSU--Wasco County Extension ServiceWasco County Extension Service

Cheryl Cosner, Oregon Livestock ProducerCheryl Cosner, Oregon Livestock Producer

LocationLocation

Need for financial management Need for financial management education, but...education, but...

nn Discomfort discussing financial issues Discomfort discussing financial issues in a public forumin a public forum

nn Time pressuresTime pressuresnn Distance/travel costsDistance/travel costsnn AgeAge----driving at nightdriving at nightnn Workshop costsWorkshop costsnn Varied needsVaried needs

nn Discussion with producers; developed concept of Discussion with producers; developed concept of “Farm & Ranch Survival Kit” (FRSK)“Farm & Ranch Survival Kit” (FRSK)

nn WSU/OSU cooperative effortWSU/OSU cooperative effort

nn Obtained a $20k grant from Obtained a $20k grant from the Western Center for Risk the Western Center for Risk Management EducationManagement Education

nn Hired program coordinatorHired program coordinator

nn Sent direct mailing to 1200 ag, forest and open Sent direct mailing to 1200 ag, forest and open space landowners in Midspace landowners in Mid--ColumbiaColumbia

nn 165 officially enrolled; many more participants165 officially enrolled; many more participants

Program Development ProcessProgram Development Process

ParticipantsParticipants

Commercial operatorsCommercial operators Small acreage operatorsSmall acreage operators

Outputs (Program Activities)Outputs (Program Activities)

A. Newsletter installmentsA. Newsletter installments

1. Business planning1. Business planning2. Financial planning2. Financial planning3. Interpersonal relationships3. Interpersonal relationships4. Farm succession4. Farm succession5. Taxes and insurance 5. Taxes and insurance

planningplanning6. Marketing6. Marketing

B. Web page developmentB. Web page development

1. Subset of Small Farms web site1. Subset of Small Farms web site2. http://extension. 2. http://extension.

oregonstate.edu/wasco/ oregonstate.edu/wasco/ smallfarms/ smallfarms/ RiskManagement.phpRiskManagement.php

C. WorkshopsC. WorkshopsRanching for profitRanching for profit 6565Farm successionFarm succession 5050Winegrape production, vineyard establishment and Winegrape production, vineyard establishment and vineyard managementvineyard management

100100

Livestock workshopLivestock workshop 3535Partial budgetingPartial budgeting 1313Analyzing agricultural investmentsAnalyzing agricultural investments 1313

Evaluating land lease agreementsEvaluating land lease agreements 1414Crop profitability analysisCrop profitability analysis 77Machinery costsMachinery costs 1010Hay growers’ workshopHay growers’ workshop 3535Direct marketing workshopDirect marketing workshop 1111

Outcomes (Impacts)Outcomes (Impacts)

nn “Invest more time looking at business to see what is “Invest more time looking at business to see what is losing money.”losing money.”

nn “Eliminate non“Eliminate non--profitable enterprises.”profitable enterprises.”

nn “Make educated decisions vs. guesses and hope!”“Make educated decisions vs. guesses and hope!”

nn “Get my husband to figure out if it’s cost effective to “Get my husband to figure out if it’s cost effective to buy machinery or farm.”buy machinery or farm.”

“What will you do differently “What will you do differently following this workshop?”following this workshop?”

nn 30% response rate30% response rate

nn Respondents from 16 different counties in the Respondents from 16 different counties in the Northwest; owned and/or managed 28 different Northwest; owned and/or managed 28 different agricultural enterprises; represented 77,220 acres agricultural enterprises; represented 77,220 acres under managementunder management

nn “On a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being none and 5 being a “On a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being none and 5 being a great deal), how much useful knowledge did you great deal), how much useful knowledge did you gain as a result of your participation in this project?” gain as a result of your participation in this project?” 3.783.78

Evaluation via Phone SurveyEvaluation via Phone Survey

nn Started/completed a business plan (14)Started/completed a business plan (14)

nn Analyzed my financial situation with my lender (10)Analyzed my financial situation with my lender (10)

nn Reviewed my insurance policies to determine if I Reviewed my insurance policies to determine if I have appropriate coverage (17)have appropriate coverage (17)

nn Started/completed a marketing plan for my farm or Started/completed a marketing plan for my farm or ranch (11)ranch (11)

“What changes have you made “What changes have you made as a result of your participation as a result of your participation

in this project?”in this project?”

•• Louisiana State University Ag Center use of farm Louisiana State University Ag Center use of farm succession materials succession materials

•• The Farm Family Support Network has linked to the The Farm Family Support Network has linked to the FRSK Web siteFRSK Web site

•• The Wyoming Dept. of Ag included succession The Wyoming Dept. of Ag included succession installment in their Estate Planning Handbookinstallment in their Estate Planning Handbook

•• “Successful Farming Radio Magazine,” broadcast to 1.25 “Successful Farming Radio Magazine,” broadcast to 1.25 million listeners in 22 Midwestern states, linked to Web million listeners in 22 Midwestern states, linked to Web

•• 2007 NACAA Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch 2007 NACAA Search for Excellence in Farm and Ranch Financial Management AwardFinancial Management Award

Other OutcomesOther Outcomes

Quote from participant:Quote from participant:“We’re holding family meetings to discuss goals and “We’re holding family meetings to discuss goals and

objectives for use of our family property. Also working objectives for use of our family property. Also working with financial planner to look at longwith financial planner to look at long--term financial term financial

objectives.”objectives.”

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

nn WAWA--OR Farm Succession and Estate Planning program: OR Farm Succession and Estate Planning program: $32,000 from the Western Center for Risk Management $32,000 from the Western Center for Risk Management EducationEducation

nn WAWA--OR MidOR Mid--Columbia Ag Enterprise Investigation Columbia Ag Enterprise Investigation Series: $36,000 Western Center for Risk Management Series: $36,000 Western Center for Risk Management EducationEducation

Questions?Questions?