University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is pleased to announce Sylvanus Gaku as the new Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist, focused on farm financial risk management outreach education. This position identifies needs and provides outreach and education for solutions to the most critical issues facing Wisconsin agricultural producers in the area of farm financial risk management.
Profitable, healthy farm businesses are essential to Wisconsin’s $100 billion agriculture economy. Farmers must continually identify and evaluate opportunities and challenges to enhance their competitive position.
Financial risk is part of any farm business’s beginning, transition, or succession. Risk results from uncertainties surrounding policies and regulations, fluctuations in prices and costs, and increasing weather variability due to climate change, which affects both yield and quality.
Successful farms will depend upon skillful business management, requiring information, resources, and analysis for informed decision-making.
As the new Farm Management Outreach Specialist Sylvanus (Silva) Gaku will leverage his experience in agriculture economics and risk management to enhance the competitiveness of farms and the agricultural industry across Wisconsin. Silva’s previous research focused on farms’ use of debt, and alternatives and combination strategies for farm safety net programs. His Extension publications focused on the impact of farm policy, crop insurance, and weather shocks on producer income, well-being, and financial status. He has developed interactive maps and articles to inform farmers’s decisions for annual forage insurance, high coverage insurance policies, and payouts of ARC, PLC, and SCO -programs that aim to protect farmers from significant income losses due to fluctuations in crop prices or revenue shortfalls.
Silva earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, a Master’s in Economics from Cleveland State University, and in 2024 his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University.
He served as a farm assistant, where he was involved in the cultivation and management of a wide range of crops, including both staple and specialty crops. This role allowed him to work in diverse agricultural environments, providing him with a broad understanding of various farming practices and techniques. His experience also gave him insight into the financial aspects of farming.
“I am excited about the opportunity to help provide research and information to help inform decisions by farmers and those working to serve farmers in Wisconsin.”
Silva started as a state outreach specialist on Dec. 16, 2024. His work will add value to that of partner organizations and community members through collaboration to develop and deliver educational programs for ag commodity and specialty crop industries across Wisconsin. His office will be at the new Extension Building at 3500 University Ave., Madison, Wis. Please contact Silva directly via email at silva.gaku@wisc.edu or by phone at 920-342-3180.