The Weather Ready Farms Designation Program is currently searching for participants to engage in the expanded pilot of our program. The only qualification for participation is for the crop producer to reside in Eastern Nebraska.

The program will run from Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 to Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Interested candidates must sign a participation verification letter before Friday, March 12, 2021. Participants will complete the four phases of the designation program to improve sustainability and weather resiliency on their farms. These steps include:

1. Self-Assessment: Participants complete a self-assessment to determine areas of vulnerabilities on the farm. 
2. Education: Participants attend a variety of Nebraska Extension programs and partner events, where they learn about new research and ways to implement practices on the farm. Education includes experiences and resources on the following topics: climate literacy; management of soil, water, pests and crops; and disaster, emergency planning and preparedness. 
3. Verification: Participants prioritize areas on the farm where they can implement new management strategies, and these practices are verified by a third-party provider. 
4. Designation: Participants who have completed phases 1-3 receive the Weather Ready Farms designation.

Participants of the WRF designation program, will receive a participation stipend of $1,200 and $1,300 to put toward funding new weather-ready agriculture practices on their farms. Farms who complete our designation program will also receive weather ready designation status, as well as a homestead sign recognizing this status. Moreover, participation in the program will offer invaluable knowledge and allow participants to join a community of sustainable and weather ready farmers.

If interested in participating in WRF, please contact Candace Hulbert.