Outstanding Project Award 2026

Situation:  Missouri farmers face challenges accessing reliable, practical information on small ruminant production. Producers struggle with parasite control, pasture use, strategic business planning and weather-related decision making. Programming was needed to deliver reliable education and practical tools to address these production and management challenges and improve farm sustainability. 

Outcomes: Through a series of field days, workshops, and webinars more than 220 unique small ruminant producers gained practical skills and resources to help better manage risk on their operations. An additional 100 producers engaged through online modules and self-guided tools. Participants learned about educational and decision aid tools to help livestock producers make optimal choices when using the USDA RMA’s Pasture/Range/Forage (PRF) Insurance. Tool adoption and knowledge gains were strong in pasture management and weather risk tools with 114 participants beginning to use the pasture stick-yard to assess stocking rates and PRF support decision tools; and 402 participants implementing risk management toolbox information. Parasite prevention tools were adopted by 147 participants. A total of 204 participants increased their understanding of business modeling and strategic plan analysis while 33 began using full strategic business plans. Overall, the project successfully increased knowledge and practice adoption to address pasture management, animal health, business planning, and weather-related risks.

Impacts: This project strengthened farmers’ and ranchers’ risk management by improving herd health, nutrition, biosecurity, grazing decisions, business management, marketing and insurance decisions. The PRF Rainfall Index Tool was updated and validated for Missouri use providing a key decision tool to help livestock producers make optimal insurance choices. The development of the Small Ruminant Risk Management Toolbox, a centralized online platform that houses all of the grant-supported materials, videos, and webinars allows producers to revisit training and earn certification thus extending the projects’ impact well beyond the grant period, supporting long-term education and practice adoption. Overall, these efforts translated research into actionable solutions and advanced resilient, sustainable agriculture.

A PRODUCER STORY
One farmer participating in the project recognized that managing a large herd or a small flock may look different day-to-day, but the basic challenges are the same: feeding, breeding, and keeping animals healthy through the seasons. As a farmer, he valued the opportunity to learn from so many educators in one program.