CAS' John Mangus presented risk management information to over 250 New Mexico beginning producers attending the New Mexico FFA State Leadership Convention. 

The event was held in Albuquerque on January 30, 2010.  Mangus covered a range of risk management and crop insurance topics during five separate presentations.  Attendees also participated in CAS' risk management simulation game with high scorers winning prizes. 

CAS appreciates the efforts of the New Mexico FFA and Executive Secretary Jerrod Smith to help coordinate the event. 

CAS' Brett Crosby recently provided risk management training and tools to dozens of Wisconsin Christmas tree growers attending the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association's Winter Convention and Trade Show held in Waukesha, WI, on January 22-23, 2010.

CAS first introduced general risk and risk management principles, followed by a discussion of Christmas tree-specific risk considerations and risk management practices. They next provided attendees with an introduction to the Christmas Tree Risk Analysis Tool (CTRAT).

The CTRAT is a Microsoft Excel based decision support tool that models a Christmas tree operation and provides producers with key operating summaries as well as “what-if” type decision support capabilities. Attending producers were also told about the ChristmasTreeRiskManagement.com website that provided risk management information and tools to America's Christmas tree producers.

CAS presenters Shylea Wingard and John Mangus have recently worked to deliver risk management information to beginning producers in New Hampshire. CAS worked with New Hampshire FFA State Coordinator Maria VanderWoude to schedule and present the informational program to local vocational agriculture programs. Directing the presentation to horticulture and agriculture-focused students, CAS presenters introduced attendees to basic risk management principles and explained the operation and benefits of crop insurance programs offered to New Hampshire producers.

To illustrate the challenges of managing risk and the role of Federal Crop Insurance Programs in agricultural risk management, attendees participated in an interactive learning simulation that illustrated uncertainty and risk in a simulated New Hampshire nursery operation. The outcomes of the game varied by student depending on uncontrollable chance and the risks chosen by a given student over a simulated six-year period. Attending producers’ agricultural experience and interests spanned a range of production agriculture fields.

CAS' Brett Crosby participated in the Louisiana Cattlemen's 2010 Annual Convention held in West Monroe, Louisiana, on January 15, 2010. Crosby presented attendees with information about the structure, operation, and availability of the Livestock Risk Protection Program offered by the USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA).

CAS' presentation was delivered as part of a RMA Commodity Partnership to inform Louisiana cattle producers of the availability and function of the LRP Program that protects producers against downside price risk. The partnership is administered by RMA’s Jackson, MS Regional Office.

Crosby's presentation focused on risk management issues and RMA's LRP Program. After introducing basic concepts of risk, risk management, and Federal crop insurance, Crosby told producers about previous program experience and participation rates, which suggest widespread acceptance. Crosby then provided an in-depth description of the LRP Program, including specific examples of premium, coverage, and indemnity calculations.