Program To Help Dairy Farmers Set for March 27 in Morrisville

A program to help dairy farmers through these challenging pricing times is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 27 in Morrisville.

Community partners looking for ways to support dairy farmers are encouraged to join this important conversation. 

Professionals with NY FarmNet will share information on their free and confidential services that include farm business finance, stress management, depression and suicide prevention.

A discussion will follow and include creating a stronger network of support services throughout the county. 

The program will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, 100 Eaton St., Morrisville. Call or email Karin Bump if additional information is needed: kbump@cornell.edu or 315-684-3001.

New York State Budget Includes Millions for Agriculture

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/state-budget-awards-millions-to-agriculture-thousands-for-farm-business-and-education-programs--20170412 to check out the story.

Conference on Farm Transfer and Management Set For Feb. 15, 16

A two-day conference on Farm Transfer and Management is scheduled for Feb. 15 and 16 at the Double Tree by Hilton in DeWitt, east of Syracuse.

The conference, put on by NY FarmNet, will include discussion and education about how to manage the risks of farm business transfer, such as:

** Human Resource Management
** Strategies for managing the agricultural market
** Crop insurance options for your farm
** Developing a risk management plan for your farm

Gary Schnitkey will give the keynote address. Schnitkey, a professor and farm management specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois, focuses on farm and risk management, specifically crop insurance evaluation, and aiding farmers in understanding the risk and return tradeoffs of different crop insurance policies. 

Admission to the conference is free as are all meals and materials. Hotel accommodations are NOT included. Travel scholarships are available for veterans.

Tickets are available at https://www.cvent.com/events/farm-transfer-management-conference-risk-management-in-new-york-agriculture-in-an-age-of-uncertainty/registration-568bd06cdec04e988f3b7f1938e42de6.aspx this link.

You also can register at http://bit.ly/farmtransfer at this link. Registration does not include hotel reservations.

Also sponsoring the conference are Farm Credit East, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cornell University's Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Ag Analytics.

 

 

New York FarmNet Seeks Farm Managers for Survey

Information from New York FarmNet:

NY FarmNet is seeking middle managers working in farm businesses for a new research effort that hopes to determine attributes of successful managers, as well as identify areas for improvement. 

Survey results may be used to develop educational programs for farm managers.

"Middle managers play an important role in the success of agriculture. However, limited research exists related to the current skillset of on-farm middle managers," said NY FarmNet Executive Director Ed Staehr. "Information obtained from this study will provide valuable information for furthering and developing agricultural managers with the necessary skillsets to ensure long-term successes and sustainability of the agricultural industry."

The definitions are as follows:

Middle Managers -- A key employee that is controlled and controls. A middle is responsible for a designated area of the business, may or may not supervise employees, and may or may not serve as a junior partner. Most middle managers have some decision making authority, while senior managers are ultimately responsible for the decisions of middle managers.

Senior Managers -- A senior manager controls and is not controlled. Senior managers have final decision making authority for all, or a portion of the business. Senior managers are responsible for the decisions made by middle managers. For the purposes of this study, a senior manager must have full or partial ownership of the business; otherwise they are a middle manager.

The survey link is: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3CMkV8vcVN7Zav3

For more information, contact (607) 255-4121.

A Second Career in Farming

What a cool story.

Thanks to NY FarmNet for sharing it.

Go to http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/21/your-money/a-second-career-happily-in-the-weeds.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140620&nlid=30578196&tntemail0=y&_r=1 to see the NY Times story.

Program Oct. 30 on Farm Transfers

Have you registered yet?

There is a program coming up Oct. 30 about http://www.extendonondaga.org/events-10/farm-transfer-planning-planning-your-farms-future/?utm_source=October+15+Update&utm_campaign=Enews+Marketing&utm_medium=email farm transfers being put on by FarmNet and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County.

Selling Farms Calls For Creative Deals

More national accolades for NY FarmNet.

Go to http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/selling-farms-calls-creative-deals-20130338 to read the story about how to sell a farm operation in this day and age.

Farm Succession Planning Conference Set for Sept. 24-25

Remember to sign up by Sept. 12 for this important conference.

Register by Sept. 12 for Conference on Farm Transfers

News from NY FarmNet:

This isn’t your grandpa’s farm transfer.

Farm succession now requires legal, tax and business strategy.

Industry professionals and farmers will offers tips for transferring farm ownership to the next generation at a conference, “New Strategies for Farm Succession Planning,” slated for Sept. 24-25 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, just west of Syracuse.

Registrations are due Sept. 12.

“Over the years, the farm transfer process has become increasingly complex. At the same time, farmland values continue to appreciate. These factors make it necessary for farmers to have in place innovative strategies to ensure a successful transition in ownership and keep the farm in agriculture,” said Ed Staehr, executive director of NY FarmNet and a senior extension associate with the Dyson School at Cornell University.

NY FarmNet organized the conference in light of the growing number of requests from farmers faced with how to successfully keep the farm business going under new management of the next generation of operators – from within, and outside, the farm family.

NY FarmNet provides free and confidential technical assistance in farm financial matters, including farm startup, business planning, developing financial statements, debt restructuring, and more. NY FarmNet’s personal wellbeing staff helps farmers improve family and business communication skills and address stress, communication, and other concerns.

The conference provides farm families and their advisers information on developing effective farm business succession plans.

Presenters include nationally renowned experts in farm succession planning.  Robert Milligan, senior consultant with Dairy Strategies/Professor Emeritus Cornell University; and Sharon Danes, professor and family economist at the University of Minnesota, who will lead discussions on management and relationship-building relevant to farm succession planning. 

Professionals from Farm Credit, Farm Family Insurance and a leading law firm in succession planning will describe how to develop a plan that works for your farm business, including funding, tax, legal, and insurance strategies. 

A multigenerational panel of farmers will share how they implemented succession plans for their farm business.

A significant number of farms now exceed federal gift and estate tax exemptions.  As a result, some farm owners are reluctant to develop a strategy for the next generation to continue farming.

In many cases, profitability is not a limiting factor in farm business transferability.  Family communication issues between generations are a frequent impediment to successful farm business transfers.

Registration is due by Sept. 12 and is $100 and includes meals and educational material. For more information, call (800) 547-3276 or email aes6@cornell.edu.

NY FarmNet is an extension and outreach program of the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Look for NY Farm Net online at www.nyfarmnet.org, or www.facebook.com/nyfarmnet/.

Documentary Chronicles Beginnings of NY FarmNet

Check out this short documentary on NY FarmNet.

FarmNet officials say they hope to have this ready to go at FarmAid in Saratoga.

FarmAid Gives a Shout-Out to NY FarmNet

Go to the FarmAid website at http://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=8560599&ct=13226991&notoc=1&msource=july13news to see what the folks with this concert event are saying about NY FarmNet, an organization that helps farmers throughout New York state.

Quoted in the article is Ed Staehr, of Union Springs in Cayuga County, who runs Cayuga Pumpkin Farm in his spare time (do farmers have spare time??) and works during the day as NY FarmNet executive director.

For more information on NY FarmNet, check out this http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2010/02/farmnet_helps_farmers_survive.html story I wrote about the organization in 2010.