Risk Management Education Center continues grant program

The North Central Risk Management Education Center has been awarded nearly $1.2 million in funding for 2013.

This funding will be turned around in the form of grants to qualified entities including educational institutions, farm and commodity organizations, lenders, consultants and other risk management education providers, said Brad Lubben, NCRMEC program director.

For the 11th year, the Extension Risk Management Education program will award grants to projects that teach farmers and ranchers the tools they need to address the uncertainties in farm income, particularly in the areas of production, price/market, financial, legal and human risks.

Eligible programs should have the capacity to develop and carry out educational programs for farmers and ranchers. In the past, the NCRMEC has funded many projects across the region, including projects that have a legacy of serving producers, such as "Winning the Game" and "Annie's Project."

The current prime award represents the first year of funding for an expected three year cycle of $3.3 million in funding, he said. The North Central RME Center funds awards for up to $50,000.

The Extension Risk Management Education is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

UNL's Department of Agricultural Economics and UNL Extension has been the host of the North Central Region since the program's inception in 2001.

This year's request for applications will be announced around Nov. 1, with the final proposal deadlines in February. More information is available at http://www.ncrme.org.