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An Innovative Private Industry Approach to Grower Risk Management Education

Dennis Fiess and Tessa Wicks

Summary

This project called AMMO (Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization) began with a group of farm suppliers in Lincoln County Washington as a way to help their customers improve their business management skills. Originally conceived as a member service by AgVentures NW, a regional grain marketing cooperative, AMMO grew to include 19 member companies in its first year. In 2011 we offered 9 different workshops on traditional topics like marketing and estate planning but also family communications, farm records as decision making tools, developing a business plan, and managing input costs. 121 different growers attended at least one workshop with an average attendance of 46. Because of our success we were asked to expand to an adjoining county. Another 23 companies joined as member sponsors. In 2012 we offered 10 workshops in each county. 317 different growers attended at least one workshop with an average attendance of 42. Because of the outstanding success of the project, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) asked to be included and take the project to a statewide effort. Because of the explosive growth it was decided that that WAWG was the better organization to take the project forward so it became the sponsoring organization for 2013. Another 12 companies (54 total) have joined the effort for the 2013 series. We are offering 10 workshops in four different locations across the farming region of the state. AMMO has proven to be a very effective new way to deliver risk management education to a wider audience of growers.

Details

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