funding opportunities at the risk management agency craig witt risk management education director...

Funding Opportunities at the

Risk Management Agency

Craig Witt

Risk Management Education Director

July 26, 2003

Risk Management Agency

• Established in 1996 from Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

• Operate the Federal Crop Insurance Program in partnership with private insurance companies.

• Relatively small USDA agency– 10 Regional Offices– 6 Compliance Offices– Research and Development Office

Key Funding Development

• Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPA)

• ARPA:– Substantial research and education funding– Authorization of innovative programs, i.e.

livestock insurance, Agricultural Management Assistance

– Higher crop insurance subsidies– Stronger compliance

Federal Crop Insurance Coverage

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45 Liability - $ billions

RMA Funding Opportunities1. Research

a. Contracting *

b. “508h” - $10m/y

c. Research Partnerships *

2. Educationa. Commodity Partnerships *

b. Targeted States - $5m/y

c. RME Grants (through CSREES) - $5m/y

3. Outreach a. Outreach Partnerships *

* From a fund of $20m/y

Research Funding Opportunities

• Contracting – Ongoing feasibility studies for insurance products– Ongoing development of new insurance products

• “508h”– Reimbursement for new product development costs

• Research Partnerships– Agreements to develop new risk management tools– RFA for $4m due July 28, 2003

RMA Education Funding Opportunities

• Commodity Partnerships

• Targeted States

Common Features:“Commodity Partnerships”and “Targeted States”• 2003 RFA due July 28, 2003• Cooperative Agreements - Not Grants

– substantial involvement of RMA

• Tasks– Finalize RME delivery plan

– Assemble instructional materials

– Conduct promotion program

– Conduct education activities

– Document results

“Commodity Partnerships”• National Scope

• Education emphasis on Production, Marketing, and Financial

• Priority for producers of:– Crops not covered by crop insurance– Specialty crops– Under-served commodities

• Funding determined by RMA administrator

• 2002 - 72 Agreements for $3.7 million

• 2003 - 39 Agreements (max) for $3.5 million

“Targeted States”• Restricted to 15 States (12 NE and 3 Mountain

States)

• Restricted to Crop Insurance Education

• Supported by the Agricultural Management Assistance program

• Funding up to $5 million per year

• 2002 - 13 Agreements for $1.8 million

• 2003 - 15 Agreements (max) for $4.25 million

Program Results• Substantial partnering among key stakeholders.

• More than 49,000 producers reached during 2002.

• Documented increase in producer awareness of risk management tools and their use.

• Documented increase in the use of risk management tools, especially crop insurance. (i.e. Targeted States insurance coverage will exceed $1 b for the first time in 2003)

• Success stories (i.e. Pennsylvania)

“Outreach Partnerships”

• National Scope• Emphasis on meeting the needs of small,

limited resource, and minority producers.• Funding determined by RMA administrator• 2002 - 46 Agreements for $3.7 million• 2003:

– Request for Applications due August 1 for $3.5 million

www.rma.usda.gov