UConn Extension has a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Association (RMA) grant for farmers and growers, specifically focus- ing on crop insurance and its options. USDA offers fewer disaster assistance funds, and wants farmers to take a greater interest in managing their risks and related financial impacts. The pro- gram is designed to create a safety net for operations through insurance for weather incidents, pests, or a lack of market. The beauty of the program- ming is that Extension educators can weave in other topics of interest in areas of risk management for farmers. Examples include production risk, plant diseases, or labor. RMA covers any practice that mitigates risk on a farm operation. “I enjoy helping farmers develop solutions to prob- lems,” Bonelli states. “I ask them what keeps them up at night. For many farmers its problems that risk manage- ment can help them mitigate. Extension helps farmers understand the tools that are available, and grow the farm for the next generation.” Mary Concklin, Visiting Associate Extension Educator for Fruit Production and IPM, is the co- principal investigator on the RMA grant with Bonelli. An advisory board of 12 people meets annually to provide input on programming. Members of the “Agriculture is inherently a risk filled profession,” says Associate Extension Educator Joseph Bonelli. “Utilizing risk management is a tool for farmers to minimize the impacts of threats they can’t completely control by reduc- ing the impact of certain dangers on their farm business.” Risk Management Tools Helping Grow Connecticut Farms 12 2018 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION