Oregon State University was awarded a $75,000 partnership agreement award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), the agency announced Monday. The grants are intended to help provide new ways for producers to manage agricultural risks, and for outreach and educational opportunities to women, limited-resource, and other traditionally underserved farmers and ranchers.
OSU’s grant will go towards a program to promote “Specialty Crop Production and Farm Business Management for New and Experienced Farmers.” The program will provide risk management training to underserved specialty crop farmers starting new farms or expanding existing farm businesses in Oregon. The term “specialty crop” includes nurseries.
RMA accepted proposals from public and private entities, including colleges and universities; federal, state, and local agencies; non-profit and for-profit organizations; and others. All partnership agreements were competitive and awarded based on merit.