Advisory Council

The Southern Center maintains an Advisory Council which is composed of twelve members, each with different experience and expertise, and each from a different part of the region.  The Advisory Council serves several important roles.  Through their breadth of experience, the members provide guidance in determining regional risk management education priorities for the annual Request for Applications (RFA).  They share their insight concerning educational needs across the region, keeping in mind the diversity of agriculture as well as the diversity of demographic and Special Emphasis groups. Also, they are asked to suggest strategies that will enhance collaboration among educators, farm organizations, and risk management service providers within the region.  The Advisory Council also serves as the panel that evaluates Proposal Applications submitted to the Southern Center through the annual Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program.

 

Our advisory council, in concert with SRMEC leadership and staff, have created a valuable synergy in which their broad base of expertise, experience, and judgment is capitalized on to develop prioritized emphasis areas for Southern risk management education. Importantly, the Council makes all decisions about which proposed projects will receive funding in processes identified in the Extension Risk Management Education national program Operations Guide and in-line with competitive program requirements of NIFA management. Council members are chosen for their diverse backgrounds and knowledge of agriculture in the region and provide input about emerging regional issues.  Our current Advisory council represents eleven different states, a 1890 and four 1862 land-grant institutions. We have farmers representing season extension technology, specialty crops, conventional commercial row crops and livestock. Our council also has industry representatives from a commodity organization and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.