CAMPBELL: Kansas Farm Management Association maintains long-term commitment to Kansas ag – Hays Post

Report on the Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA) and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Historical Context

The Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA) has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the agricultural sector in Kansas for over 80 years. The association’s primary objective is to support agricultural producers by providing critical production and financial management information. This work is fundamental to fostering resilient agricultural practices and directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to food security, economic growth, and sustainable production.

Operational Framework and Strategic Partnerships (SDG 17)

The operational strength of the KFMA program lies in its strategic partnership with Kansas State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics. This collaboration aligns with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by leveraging academic expertise to support on-the-ground agricultural enterprise.

• A professional staff of 24 KFMA economists, who are part of the university, are strategically located throughout the state.
• These economists work directly with farm families, creating a vital link between academic research and practical farm management.
• This partnership model ensures that producers receive high-quality, data-driven information to enhance their decision-making processes for long-term sustainability.

Core Services and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The KFMA program provides a suite of services designed to improve farm viability and sustainability. Each service directly contributes to specific SDGs by empowering producers with the data needed for informed management.

1. Whole-Farm Analysis: This service offers a comprehensive overview of the entire farm business, from production to financial health.
   • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By optimizing farm operations, producers can increase efficiency and productivity, strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.
   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Improved financial management leads to greater farm profitability and economic stability, supporting sustained economic growth in rural communities.
2. Enterprise Analysis: This analysis details the costs and returns for each specific enterprise within the farm, such as individual crops or livestock operations.
   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By identifying the most and least profitable enterprises, farmers can make informed decisions to ensure more sustainable production patterns and efficient resource use.
3. Financial Benchmarking and Trend Analysis: KFMA allows members to compare their financial performance against a database of similar farm operations and analyze trends over time.
   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): This data-driven approach fosters innovation by allowing producers to identify areas for improvement and adopt more efficient and resilient practices, strengthening the agricultural industry as a whole.

Conclusion and Contact Information

The Kansas Farm Management Association serves as a critical resource for advancing sustainable agriculture in Kansas. Through its expert analysis and strategic partnership with K-State Research and Extension, KFMA directly supports the achievement of SDGs 2, 8, 9, 12, and 17. By equipping farm families with essential management information, the association promotes economic viability, enhances food production systems, and encourages responsible resource management.

Further Information

For additional details regarding membership in the Kansas Farm Management Association, interested parties may utilize the following resources:

• Website: agmanager.info/kfma
• KFMA Director: Mark Dikeman
  • Phone: 785-532-0516
  • Email: dikeman@ksu.edu
• Local Contact: County or District K-State Research and Extension offices can provide a direct connection to KFMA economists.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article discusses services aimed at improving the financial stability and decision-making of farm families, which is crucial for securing livelihoods and preventing poverty in rural communities.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The focus on enhancing farm management, production, and financial planning for agricultural producers directly supports the goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By providing tools and expertise to make farming more efficient and profitable, the KFMA program contributes to sustained economic growth within the agricultural sector and supports the viability of farming as a form of decent work.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, financial services, including microfinance, and new technology.
    
    Explanation: The article highlights that KFMA provides farm families with “Assistance with financial planning” and “Assistance with farm succession planning.” These services directly enhance farmers’ access to and control over their economic resources and financial services, which is a key component of this target.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular… family farmers… including through secure and equal access to… knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
    
    Explanation: The article states that KFMA’s primary goal is to provide “production and financial management information for use in decision making” to its members, who are farm families. Services like “Whole Farm Analysis,” “Enterprise Analysis,” and “Financial Benchmarks” are forms of knowledge and financial services aimed at increasing farm productivity and, consequently, income.
  • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…
    
    Explanation: The comprehensive support offered, including “Whole Farm Analysis” and “Assistance with marketing plans,” helps farmers adopt more efficient and resilient practices. Better management, informed by expert analysis, is foundational to building sustainable food production systems.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…
    
    Explanation: The role of the 24 KFMA economists is to work with producers to improve their operations. By providing “production and financial management information” and “Enterprise Analysis,” the program facilitates innovation and upgrades in management practices, leading to higher economic productivity on the farm.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicators for Target 2.3

  • The article implies that progress can be measured by the number of farm families who are members of KFMA and are actively using the “production and financial management information” provided. This serves as a proxy for measuring access to knowledge and financial services.
  • The use of “Financial Benchmarks” and “Enterprise Analysis” by farmers can be seen as an indicator of the adoption of improved management practices, which are precursors to increased productivity and income.

• Implied Indicators for Target 1.4

  • The number of farmers receiving “Assistance with financial planning” and “Assistance with farm succession planning” would be a direct indicator of progress in providing access to financial services that help secure economic resources and inheritance for farm families.

• Implied Indicators for Target 8.2

  • Progress towards higher economic productivity could be measured by tracking the performance of member farms against the “Financial Benchmarks” provided by KFMA. An upward trend in these benchmarks would indicate improved economic productivity at the farm level.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hayspost.com