The north central extension risk management education center (ncermec or the center) will deliver risk management education to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters manage risks and position their…

The North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center (NCERMEC), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (CFDA 10.520), received a $2.121 million project grant awarded September 30, 2025, with completion targeted for September 29, 2028. Housed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Center delivers producer-focused risk management education to farmers, ranchers, and foresters across the seven-state North Central region. Core deliverables include conducting needs assessments with producer and stakeholder groups to identify emerging risk management issues; administering an annual competitive grants program funding education and exploratory projects addressing producer risk management priorities; operating an Advisory Council to oversee programming and review grant proposals; and providing capacity-building training for educators, grant applicants, and recipients aligned with Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) operational guidelines.

The Center strengthens its educational footprint through sub-awards to regional partners including South Dakota State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Purdue University, University of Minnesota, and non-profit organizations such as Land Stewardship Project and Choplocal Inc., collectively extending outreach and specialized expertise across the region. Additional deliverables encompass maintaining a comprehensive communications strategy to promote the ERME program, document outcomes, and facilitate national collaboration with other ERME Centers. The overall initiative targets increased producer adoption of improved risk management practices and decision-making capabilities, positioning agricultural operations for financial sustainability, competitiveness, and long-term growth.

The north central extension risk management education center (ncermec or the center) will deliver risk management education to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters manage risks and position their operations for future growth and success. The center, located at the university of nebraska-lincoln, will identify and assess producer risk management education needs and emerging issues through efforts with several producer and stakeholder groups. Building on the needs assessment results, the center will implement an annual competitive grants program for both education and exploratory projects that deliver or lead to producer-focused, outcomes-based risk management education. An advisory council will work with the center to oversee the needs assessment and programming efforts and to implement the grants program, including review of proposals in accordance with the extension risk management education (ERME) operational guidelines. The center will help build capacity for risk management education through training for educators, applicants, and grant recipients and will work with other ERME partners to deliver national capacity-building programming and address emerging issues as appropriate. The center will maintain a comprehensive communications plan to administer the regional competitive grants program, document results, promote the ERME program, and maintain a strong national linkage with other ERME partners. The center's overall efforts will address producer needs, increase the capacity of producers to adopt improved risk management practices and decision-making, and help support financially sustainable, competitive, and prosperous agricultural production operations and systems.