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Master Marketer Program: During this 64 hour program, financial experts train agricultural producers about risk management and marketing techniques. After completion of the training program, participants serve as leaders for local marketing clubs. Financial experts from Texas Cooperative Extension conduct Master Marketer training annually in South Texas.
Beef Cattle SPA: Sponsored by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) is a training program conducted by Texas Cooperative Extension economists. Ranchers who participate in SPA analyze the production and financial performance of their operation with assistance from financial experts in an effort to reduce production costs and increase production and marketing efficiency. SPA training occurs each spring in South Texas.
Quicken Training: Quicken, the record keeping software, serves as a valuable financial tool for many South Texas farmers and ranchers. Although not designed exclusively for agriculture, Quicken can be easily modified into a agricultural record keeping system. Online support to modify Quicken for agriculture is provided by Ag Economists at Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University. South Texas Extension Agents and Extension Specialists also provide Quicken training to producers.
FARM Assistance: FARM Assistance (Financial and Risk Management Assistance) is a decision support system offered by Texas Cooperative Extension. Its purpose is to help agricultural producers evaluate the existing financial position and performance of their operations as well as alternatives for the future. Designed as a strategic planning tool to provide producers with a long-term assessment of specific alternatives under risk, FARM Assistance can help evaluate the potential impact of management decisions prior to their implementation. John Parker conducts FARM Assistance analyses for South Texas producers throughout the year.
Risk Management Curriculum Guide: A Risk Management Curriculum Guide is being developed by Texas Cooperative Extension and Kansas State University Extension Service to provide agricultural producers with knowledge about the sources of risk impacting their farms and ranches and the tools and options available for managing those risks. The curriculum guide consists of fact sheets and teaching support materials for the following areas: price risk management, production risk management, business planning/budgeting, human resource management, marketing organizations and alternatives, legal/regulatory, financial risk management, and farm policy and international trade.