Outreach and Education

RMA is making Federal crop insurance available and accessible to as many producers as possible by engaging with communities that have historically lacked access to risk management resources.

To make this connection, every year RMA funds partnership projects, through cooperative agreements, with nonprofits, universities, industry groups, and others to deliver risk management education and training across the country.

In addition, RMA funds pilot projects, through direct awards, to deliver outreach and education under special initiatives that address areas of high need.

RMA’s pilot and partnership projects primarily serve:

• Historically underserved and limited-resource producers
• Beginning farmers and ranchers
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Urban agriculture
• Livestock, dairy, and aquaculture producers
• Specialty crop and organic operations
• Regions with historically low participation rates in crop insurance

Risk Management Agency has awarded nearly $4.1 million to organizations and outreach efforts through its Risk Management Education 2024 Partnerships. The goal of these partnerships is to provide training and resources to underserved and small-scale organic producers, and others about risk management options.

This year 15 organizations from across the nation were chosen. These partnerships reinforce RMA’s commitment to providing training on risk management options in communities that historically lacked access.

Read more about the 2024 Risk Management Education Awardees

Full listing of 2024 Risk Management Education Partnerships

Learn more about current/past projects and how to apply for funding.

Partnership projects are funded as part of the Risk Management Education Program.

Learn more about current pilots and how to participate.

The current pilot programs include Planting Confidence, Building Resiliency, Crop Insurance Navigators, and the Southeast Ambassador.

RMA engages with producers and grower groups at national conferences, local town halls, meetings, and listening sessions. This dialogue helps address barriers that may hinder some producers from participating in Federal crop insurance. RMA analyzes data and feedback from these interactions to improve services and insurance products.

Groups requesting to meet with RMA should contact their local RMA Regional Office, or email rma.risk-ed@usda.gov.

In states where participation in Federal crop insurance has been historically low, RMA provides funding to help growers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing, or natural resource conservation practices. The Agricultural Management Assistance program, or AMA, is available in 16 states, including Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Producers in these states can enroll in AMA through their local USDA Service Center. For more information email rma.risk-ed@usda.gov.