The 2018 ERME National Conference will bring together public and private sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts that target agricultural producers and their families. Conference participants will learn about what is working to help producers effectively manage the financial, production, marketing, legal and human risks associated with their agribusinesses.

Concurrent Session and Poster Proposals

Concurrent Session and Poster presentation proposals are being solicited which highlight successful risk management education programming and its impacts. Abstract submission is encouraged from any public or private entity involved in risk management education for agricultural producers, regardless of whether the project was funded through a regional ERME Center. Presentations should be geared toward educators (rather than producers) and should demonstrate impacts as a result of the educational efforts.

Format of proposals: Proposals will be accepted online, beginning November 1, 2017. To submit a proposal for a concurrent session presentation or a poster display, please go to the conference page on the ERME website (http://extensionrme.org/conferences/2018) and click on the “Call for Presentations” link. There you will be able to register your proposal and provide an abstract (maximum of 250 words) describing your educational effort, and how it was of benefit to the participants.

Length of sessions: 30 minute Concurrent Sessions are available. Please bear in mind that we would like presenters to allow 5-10 minutes at the end the session for questions and interaction.

Poster exhibits: Tables and poster walls will both be available to exhibit posters. Conference participants will have an opportunity to interact with the poster authors during an evening networking reception on April 11.

Topics for Proposals

Concurrent Session and Poster exhibit topics may include programming related to any of the five areas of risk addressed by agricultural RME including: financial, production, marketing, legal and human.

Please note that the 2018 conference will again include a “Women in Ag” Track. Proposals are sought that represent a cross section of programming specifically designed to address the risk management education needs of women producers, and the impacts demonstrated as a result of the educational efforts geared toward this targeted group.

The Conference Planning Committee encourages all concurrent session and poster presenters to focus on the risk management results that producers achieved through participation in their educational projects.

Audience Groups

The Planning Committee also invites proposals from projects that targeted audience groups which are identified for special emphasis in Section 12026 of the 2008 Farm Bill and in Subtitle B of the Agricultural Act of 2014. These include:

• Beginning farmers and ranchers
• Legal immigrant farmers and ranchers who are attempting to become established in the U.S.
• Socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, including military veteran farmers and ranchers
• Farmers or ranchers who

1. Are preparing to retire; and
2. Are using transitions strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started

• New or established farmers or ranchers who are converting production and marketing systems to pursue new markets
• Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

Review of Proposals

A peer review committee will consider each proposal submitted by the deadline of January 19, 2018.  Decisions will be made on or around February 9, at which time presenters will be notified.

Guidelines for Concurrent Session and Poster Presenters

Workshop and poster presenters are expected to register, pay, and participate in the entire Conference (April 11-12, 2018). The Conference will begin early on the morning of April 11and will conclude at noon on April 12. The Pre-Conference Seminar, for those who choose to attend, will take place on the afternoon of April 10. Concurrent session presenters should be prepared to submit an electronic copy of their presentation prior to the conference. Further instructions will be provided at a later date.

Travel Assistance

A limited amount of travel assistance will be available through the regional ERME Centers. Please note that in order to be eligible, recipients of ERME travel assistance must register for and attend the entire conference (and stay at the host hotel). Expenses will be reimbursed upon submission of evidence of participation in the entire conference, a travel expense report and appropriate receipts, including a hotel receipt. We strongly encourage early career agricultural educators to consider attending this professional development conference. Please contact your regional ERME Center for availability and additional details and information.

If you have any questions, please contact Erica Fields (efields@uaex.edu, 501-671-2146) or Ron Rainey (rrainey@uaex.edu, 501-671-2175).