Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming
Free Farmer Assistance from the Wisconsin Farm Center
All farmers are eligible to contact Farm Center staff consultants through the Farm Center Helpline at 1-800-942-2474. All of the Farm Center’s services are free and confidential.
The Wisconsin Farm Center works with farmers one-on-one to provide free farmer assistance and confidential services, including:
• farm financial consulting
• farm succession planning
• farm business entry or exit strategies
• mediation and arbitration
• critical economic and business management issues
• other issues (herd health, specialty crop questions)
Financial Planning: Farm Center staff consultants help Wisconsin farmers deal with the critical economic, business and social needs of farm families. Services include financial and business consultation including cash flow analysis, farm feasibility or debt analysis, creating a business plan, and farm succession planning.
Mediation and Arbitration: This program provides mediation services for farmer disputes ranging from credit issues to environmental concerns to farm family conflicts. Mediation involves a neutral individual who helps facilitate negotiation and understanding between conflicting parties.
Farmer Outreach: Designed to provide resources and risk management assistance to beginning farmers including women, veterans and minorities to increase sustainability and profitability, assisting all farmers facing production or marketing challenges and opportunities.
Veteran Farmer Assistance and Outreach Program: Through this program, Wisconsin military veterans interested in learning about how to become involved in farming and agriculture can access resources, market development, branding and technical expertise. Program members can also utilize a special logo for their agricultural products.
Herd-based Diagnostic Program: This program provides veterinary diagnostic support to help address herd-health and production concerns. The program, available to Wisconsin dairy herds of all sizes and management types, addresses production, milk quality, cow loss, and other concerns.
As the downturn in the agricultural sector lengthens, the Farm Center has seen an increase in stress levels among farmers. Dairy currently tops the type of farm calling the Farm Center Helpline, with a majority of callers concerned about finances. Stress is a major underlying factor, and Farm Center staff regularly gauge a caller’s need for counseling vouchers, which are provided at no cost.
Free Farmer Assistance from the Farm Center Helpline: 1-800-942-2474
Free Farmer Assistance from the Farm Center website: FarmCenter.wi.gov
- For more information on funding opportunities for farmers including USDA Farmer Grants and more, visit https://www.beginningfarmers.org/funding-resources/
- Find tons of other useful farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/