Keeping the Farm Together

Published: 2019
By Jesse Fulbright

MSU Extension offered two days of farm management workshops in Chester in spring, 2019. Sixteen participants from four different counties in the Golden Triangle attended the two-day farm management workshops, which addressed: financial analysis and enterprise budgeting, risk management, crop and livestock production, agricultural leases, agricultural policy issues and business succession. The workshops were facilitated by MSU Extension economists George Haynes, Kate Fuller and Joel Schumacher, and Liberty County Extension. Other contributing faculty members included agricultural economists Anton Bekkerman, Diane Charlton and Eric Belasco; family economist Marsha Goetting; cropping systems specialist Kent McVay; beef cattle specialist Megan Van Emon; rangeland weed specialist Jane Mangold; soil fertility specialist Clain Jones; forage specialist Emily Meccage, and MSU Liberty County Extension agent Jesse Fulbright. Workshops were taught in person or were pre-recorded for faculty who were unable to attend for a specific time or place. Participants gained a better understanding of estate planning in a farm and ranch setting and had opportunities to practice making decisions regarding enterprise budgets, Farm Bill programs and other financial decision-making tools. Additionally, participation in these workshops satisfied requirements for Farm Service Agency production and financial management training.