Recipient Organization
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives
233 East Hamilton Street
Jackson,MS 39202
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
most of the farmers/ranchers that MAC serve are minorities, these farmers face challenges that cause them to operate with limited funds, supplies, labor, often with little or no opportunity to sustain them. with the rise of new technology and integrated contracting systems, the voice of the small farmers/ranchers on farm management got smaller and smaller. Through cooperative teams farms/ranches have a greater survival rate. Cooperatives are tools that are available to assist small farmers/ranchers to meet challenges presented above. Through cooperatives businesses farmers can assist one another in purchasing needed equipment, supplies in bulk and establishing a labor force. Another advantage is to work collectively to meet market demands,which is a factor for the small producers, cooperative development will increase farm income. Risk management education is another area where the farmer/ranchers will be educated to minimize the risk of land loss. Through workshops and training sessions they will be more knowledgeable of services available to assist them. There will be workshops on credit counseling where information will be provide to improve credit scores, resulting in increased chances of acquiring farm loans. Due to the lack of available assistance for minorities, emphasis will be placed on education and assistance with farm records.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
25%
Developmental
25%
Goals / Objectives
1. To develop and strengthen small farm cooperatives and its members to improve net returns to their farm operations. 1.1 provide outreach assistance to 200 small farmers/ranchers through organization structure and maintenance of small farm cooperatives 2. To improve the overall income of small farmers/ranchers, underserved through improving farm business and financial management 2.1 Conduct FSA vendors Borrowers Training courses for farmers/ranchers 2.2 to assist 200 small farmer/ranchers and cooperatives in acquiring loans. 2.3 Create risk managment educational programs to reach 500 farmers/rancers in targeted areas 3. To ensure the profitability and sustainability of small farmer/ranchers in target counties through productio of alternative enterprises, marketing and value added processing 4. To increase farm ownership and survival by maintaining and retaining land for limited resource farm families
Project Methods
1. Conduct 4 copperative development workshops to 200 existing members 2. Develope a 3 year comprehensive training program for all members 3. Establish a website for the farmers and ranchers that will assist in marketing produce. 4. Conduct vendor borrowers courses in business and financial management, crop and livestock production. 5. create a new generation of farmers/ranchers 6. credit counseling workshops to assist farmers who are unable to secure loans due to poor credit rating 7. conduct workshops and develop pamphlets and brochures for usda funding opportunites and other lending agencies 8. Conduct youth workshops within communites that inform them on program availability thru FSA 9. Conduct estate planning workshops in targeted counties 10. reduce bankruptcy, land loss and improve debt repayment , along with a decrease of delinquency rate from farm loan borrowers by 20% 10. develop and distribute educational material to 500 program participants on risk management. agribusiness specialist will conduct workshops and farm visits to educate and assist farmers in every aspect of their enterprise