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NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food
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Risk Management

Risk management is an expansive, whole farm approach to ensuring the success of family farms.

Crop and revenue insurance are only a small part of a farmer's strategy to reduce risk. Risk management education and research efforts focus on six themes. Production risk examines the variability associated with yield or output. Marketing risk deals with price fluctuations and meeting target market sales. Financial risk addresses securing business ownership while meeting cash flow needs. Human resource risk examines the role of people in the firm. Legal risk considers business agreements, obligations and liability issues. Environmental risk addresses water quality, chemical use and animal welfare.

The USDA Risk Management Agency along with the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the USDA Farm Service Agency and private industry have been aggressively helping farmers to identify and better manage the different sources of risk. Statewide seminars and workshops, along with educational materials, cover a wide range of topics with contributions by professionals from around the Northeast region.

Additional Information

Portable Document Format SymbolPortable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.


NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food
Mailing: PO Box 2042, Concord NH 03302 -2042
Physical: 25 Capitol Street, Second Floor, Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-3551 | fax: (603) 271-1109