In 2024, extreme rain events left farmers devastated as they surveyed their flooded fields, witnessing the destruction of their crops, time, and financial investments. The sheer volume of rainfall made damage prevention nearly impossible, wiping out expected revenue and threatening livelihoods.

UConn Extension professionals, working alongside farmers and partner agencies, provided critical support before and after the floods, helping to strengthen resilience. Their ongoing efforts focus on developing resources and tools to ensure Connecticut’s agricultural industry and food supply remain vibrant and sustainable.

“Operating a financially viable farm can be incredibly challenging, and so our goal is to take advantage of current technologies, such as smart phones, and use those as tools to help farmers reduce their risk,” says Amy Harder, associate dean for Extension.

Farm businesses face a wide range of risks, from unpredictable weather to volatile markets. To help farmers navigate these challenges, UConn Extension, located within UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), has developed new resources, including two innovative apps, that provide real-time support. A new online farm risk management course also offers comprehensive strategies to help farmers safeguard their operations and build resilience in an ever-changing industry.

An App for That

Crop insurance provides financial security if an extreme weather event or insect infestation ruins the crop before it can be harvested and sold. Mary Concklin and Joseph Bonelli are emeriti UConn Extension professionals working on the farm risk management program through a USDA grant.

“We developed the crop insurance notification app to help farmers report on time and maintain their coverage,” Concklin says. “This tool ensures farmers receive timely notifications—via text message or email—at least 30 days before a policy deadline, with an additional reminder one to two weeks before. It helps busy farmers stay on top of important dates and avoid lapses in coverage.”

Missing a deadline could mean losing coverage, which can have severe financial consequences. This app serves as an essential reminder for farmers managing multiple responsibilities.

Another innovative tool is the market pricing app, designed to collect real-time data from farmers’ markets and provide valuable insights for agricultural agencies.

The market pricing app collects data from farmers’ markets to provide accurate pricing information to USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg). Unlike self-reported data, this app ensures consistency and accuracy by requiring university or government agencies to collect the information. “The summarized pricing data can help farmers understand market trends, price their products competitively, and make informed decisions about future crop production,” Bonelli says. “It’s useful for both short-term sales strategies and long-term business planning.”

Student employees are visiting farmers’ markets throughout the state to enter the pricing data. Then, Bonelli and Concklin can analyze the data and distribute it to the partner agencies. Farmers can access the summarized data, providing insights into pricing trends and helping farmers make better business decisions.

A Holistic Approach to Farm Risk Management

To complement these tools, UConn Extension also launched an online course focused on farm risk management. This course provides farmers with strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with agriculture. The course is appropriate for farmers at all experience levels. “The course consists of 12 modules covering topics like crop insurance, farm financial management, climate adaptation strategies, and general farm insurance. The goal is to provide farmers with a range of tools to reduce risk and improve long-term sustainability,” Concklin says.

Participants learn at their own pace in the asynchronous course, taking the modules they need or are interested in. It includes assessments and offers a certificate of completion, which may be useful for professional development or demonstrating additional education in farm management. More importantly, it provides effective strategies for farm risk management that farmers can immediately apply to their operations.

The course and apps were developed in response to listening sessions with farmers.

Beyond technology, Bonelli and Concklin encourage farmers to engage with additional resources to enhance their knowledge. Farmers should attend field days, talk to their neighbors, and stay connected with industry experts.

“No single tool has all the answers; we encourage deeper engagement with UConn Extension specialists and other experts,” says Bonelli. “Whether it’s an online course, an app, or direct conversations, farmers benefit from a multi-faceted approach to managing risk.”

This work is funded in partnership by USDA, Risk Management Agency, under award numbers RMA23CPT0013448 and RMA24CPT0013928.

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

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