Farm succession workshops offered in Wisconsin

GREEN BAY — Farm owners know they need to make plans for the future of the farm, but getting that process started can be difficult. It is hard to focus on the future when today’s problems are also important to the farm’s survival, according to a press release from the UW Extension.

It is common for farmers to push farm succession planning to the back of their minds. It isn’t something that farms do every year, so finding the time and knowing where to start can be hurdles that seem too high to cross.

If you’ve been thinking about farm succession and want to learn more about the steps and the basic vocabulary of succession and estate planning, UW-Madison Division of Extension has a 3-hour farm succession planning program to help you learn more. Joy Kirkpatrick and Kelly Wilfert, both Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialists, will provide a framework to help farms identify risk and begin those first conversations around succession planning. Local Extension educators will also be on hand to help participants with follow-up information needs.

One workshop took place Thursday in western Wisconsin. The second workshop is Tuesday, from 1 to 4 p.m., in Green Bay, at the Weyers-Hilliard Branch of the Brown County Library, 2680 Riverview Dr.

These workshops are free; however, organizers would appreciate registrations. They will accommodate walk-ins on the day of the workshops where possible. To register online use this form: https://bit.ly/SuccessionSpring2024 If you prefer to register by phone:

• Green Bay location: Marinette County Extension Office, 715-732-7510

For more information, contact joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu 608-263-3485 or kelly.wilfert@wisc.edu 608-263-5798. This series of workshops is sponsored by USDA/NIFA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network 2023 funding.