Risk Management Risk Management Training Opportunities Training Opportunities Resulting from TAA for Resulting from TAA for CatfishCatfishTerry Hanson, Jimmy Avery, John Anderson, and Gregg Ibendahl

Mississippi State University Extension Service

Congress extends Foreign Agricultural Service’s TAA program to include farmers and fishermen

Producers of raw commodities, who have been adversely affected by import competition, are eligible for: Technical assistance – USDA Extension Service Cash benefits – USDA Farm Service Agency Education Assistance – US Dept. of Labor Business Assistance – US Dept. of Commerce

Farm-raised Catfish was certified eligible in 18 states on November 17, 2003

TAA Background

0 90 180 320

Commodity Certified

Application Deadline

Training Deadline

Application FSA Completion of FSA Documentation

Documentation Deadline and Extended Training

2/17/04 5/17/04 9/30/0411/17/0312/31/03

Technical AssistanceProducts Program

Products Deadline

Core Writing Team Avery, Hanson, and Anderson - MSU

Advisory and Review Panel Jesse Chappel, Auburn University Jerry Crews, Auburn University Carole Engle, University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff David Heikes, University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff Greg Lutz, Louisiana State University Mike Masser, Texas A&M University Jim Tidwell, Kentucky State University

University of Minnesota Digital Center

TAA Product Development

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) For Farmers 

CATFISHTechnical Assistance

2003 / 2004

Overview

Program Deadlines

Training Sessions

Online Course

Other Resources

Resources

©2004 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

TAA Products: On-Line Course

* 230 Slides with Narration notes

TAA Technical Assistancefor Catfish

Purpose:

To assist agricultural producers & fishermen adjust to foreign import competition

TAA Products: PowerPoint Presentation* for Educators

TAA Products: Curriculum Guide

No cost to producer Producers must have access to training in the

county in which they reside Each applicant must receive the same quality

of training

Training Requirements

Unofficial Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Survey (MASS)estimate: Potential of 646 producers in 60 counties

Official MASS reported producers: 405 producers

Potential Clientele

60 County Directors, Area Agents, and Specialists

Taught by Distance Learning Required to advertise deadlines and all

training opportunities Provided with DVD/Video, curriculum guides,

evaluation forms, and certification forms Received professional training credits if they

passed performance evaluation

Train-the-Trainer

Help Advertise/Promote Regional Meetings Local paper, newsletter, mail out Urge farmers to attend regional meetings

Provide Training for “Walk-ins” Keep track of expenses and efforts

Trainer Responsibility

Regional Meetings Delta Research &

Extension Center Central MS

Research & Extension Center

MSU Campus County Meetings Walk-ins

Training Opportunities

152 applicants in 18 Mississippi counties 122 Mississippi applicants (80%) received

training Regional meetings = 100 County Training = 22

3 out-of-state applicants were trained Arkansas = 2 Louisiana = 1

Clientele Served

41%

4% 2%

67%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

NWAC CatfishJournal

News CountyDirector

Advertisement

* 76% response rate

Training Evaluation*

4.64.1

1

2

3

4

5

Speakers Information

Quality

Training Evaluation

96%

30%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Continue Farming More Assistance

Future

Training Evaluation

86 applicants (57%) received payments $260,444 paid Average payment = $3,028 per applicant 86.8 million lbs or 1 million lbs per applicant 240 acres per applicant

Payments

Maintaining communication with FSA Status of applicants Training Deadline Extension

Dept. of Commerce Labor training void Fee for Service Contract Training in other seafood commodities

Problems

Grant from SRRMEC to conduct follow up training of TAA participants First step was a survey to ascertain training

priorities and preferred delivery methods

TAA Follow-up

Follow-up Survey Results

Survey respondents indicated interest in receiving more in-depth training on financial planning/management and ways to improve production efficiency

There was no clear consensus on the preferred method for receiving this information, though workshops and publications were both fairly highly rated

Additional Training Plans

This summer, workshops will be conducted to build on information presented in the TAA program Two workshops: MS Delta & East MS production

regions Focus will be on financial planning/management

and improving production systems A series of new extension publications is being

prepared to accompany this training

Other TAA Benefits

Opportunities for multi-disciplinary extension publications and meetings

Acquainting more catfish producers with agricultural economics faculty and programs

Providing important feedback on producer needs in terms of extension information and programs