By Scout Nelson
The winter of 2024 will see the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) facilitating an online course aimed at assisting farmland owners and retiring farmers in transitioning their land responsibly. The course aligns with the participants' conservation ethos and social values, providing a structured platform for establishing their land's future.
A retired farmer underscores the critical importance of such decision-making for a landowner's legacy. Echoing the benefits of the course, a previous participant shares their positive experience, noting the access to essential resources and confidence gained through peer group interactions.
The Farm Transition Planning Course is spread across six sessions, each lasting two and a half hours. These sessions will address a range of topics:
- Feb. 1: Setting personal and land-related goals, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Feb. 8: Financial planning for transition, 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.
- Feb. 15: Legalities involved in farm transitioning, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Feb. 22: Collaborations with the next generation of farmers, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Feb 29: Long-term care planning, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
- March 7 Identifying further resources and planning steps, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
The sessions will be weekly on Wednesday evenings. Professionals and experienced staff from LSP will facilitate these sessions, ensuring an in-depth exploration of each topic.
For those interested in participating in this future-focused farming course, registration is currently open. More information can be obtained by contacting Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org
This course represents an opportunity for landowners to be proactive in shaping the future of their farms and embodies LSP's commitment to sustainable and thoughtful agricultural practices.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-poike
Categories: Minnesota, Education