Howdy from the Risk Management Team!

Summer is quickly approaching and we are finishing up a very productive year. During the summer, we will review the analyses of the past year and organize the database of information we have collected. One of the goals for the coming year is to develop our first-ever or inaugural state report on agriculture from our database. We see the state report as another way to provide you with quality information to help you guide the direction of your operations. We will continue to send out our newsletter to keep you up to date with our program.

TTAP

Many of you have probably heard of or are enrolled in the Tomorrow’s Top Agricultural Producer (TTAP) program currently being offered by Texas Cooperative Extension, headed up by Stan Beavers. This program is designed to provide a producer with the training necessary to build a business plan, sharpen their management skills, and better position their business for the future. Part of the TTAP process is completing the FARM Assistance program. At the last TTAP session in January, participants were informed that someone from our team would be contacting them in May or June. It is that time of year, so we will be contacting them soon to schedule their initial meeting. We look forward to working with all TTAP participants by the next TTAP session in November. If you have any questions about the TTAP program, contact Stan Beavers at (940) 552-9941, or if you would like to schedule your FARM Assistance meeting call 877-TAM-Risk.

FARM Assistance now a certified vendor for FSA

We are pleased to announce that FARM Assistance has recently been approved as a certified vendor for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrower training. Completing the FARM Assistance program will satisfy FSA’s financial training requirement. Upon completion of the program, producers will receive a letter of completion to take to their FSA approval officer. The FSA farm loan managers are aware of this and should have our contact information. If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at any of our offices.

Personnel Update

John Parker has recently resigned his position as Risk Management Specialist, in Corpus Christi, to pursue a career in lending. John was a member of our team for over four years and we hate to see him go; however, we wish John well, and will continue to work with him in a new capacity. John served Texas Cooperative Districts 11 and 12 out of the Corpus Christi Center. Until a replacement can be hired and put in place, campus faculty, Steven Klose, Dean McCorkle, Greg Kaase, and George Knapek, will be serving Districts 11 and 12. As always, we can be reached by phone on the toll free line (877-TAM-RISK).

Prepared by:
George M. Knapek
Extension Specialist - Risk Management
Department of Agricultural Economics
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843-2124
979-458-1804