MONROE — The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in January providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning.

The workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists, to ask specific questions about personal situations. 

As the average age of U.S. farmers continues to inch upward, the need to plan for the transition of land, livestock, machinery and management has become a top priority in the U.S. agriculture industry. While the ongoing economic downturn in almost all sectors of agriculture may have dampened the short-term outlook for some farms, long-term business and estate planning decisions remain important. 

Having intentional conversations about farm succession and developing future plans for the farm provides a better chance for transition success. Even if the owning generation is planning to be a part of the management for 10 or more years, starting early can help the process go more smoothly. It provides the succession generation time to develop management skills and provides the farm time to build or increase its financial stability to include another generation.

Registration includes lunch, refreshments and workshop materials. For more information on these workshops and the follow up events, visit https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/programs/cultivating/

Workshop locations and dates:

Jan. 21: Walworth County Government Center, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Contact Jim Versweyveld, Extension Walworth County agriculture educator at Jim.Versweyveld@wisc.edu or call 262-741-4951.

Jan. 27: Iowa County Health and Human Services Building, 303 W. Chapel St., Dodgeville. Contact Jackie McCarville, Extension Green County agriculture educator at Jackie.McCarville@wisc.edu or call 608-328-9440.

For more information on these workshops and the follow up events, visit https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/programs/cultivating/