Clinics and Workshops

Negotiations Program (farm mediation service) in partnership with Legal Aid of Nebraska, provides free clinics and workshops for farmers and ranchers.

Call the Farm Hotline to schedule an appointment: 800-464-0258

Clinics offer a one-on-one, confidential opportunity to meet with an experienced attorney and financial counselor who specialize in agricultural legal and financial issues. This is an opportunity to obtain an experienced outside opinion on issues such as financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters.

Farm and Ranch Succession Workshops

Free Farm and Ranch Succession Workshops Offered in Sidney and Scottsbluff in February

Nebraska farm and ranch families are invited to attend a free educational workshop focused on succession and estate planning. Hosted by the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline in collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and Negotiations Programs, Nebraska Extension, and the Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, these workshops are designed to help producers prepare for the future of their operations.

The Farm and Ranch Succession Workshops will take place:

• Sidney - Feb. 3, from 5 pm to 8:30 pm at the South Platte NRD (551 Parkland Dr)
• Scottsbluff - Feb. 4, from 9 am to 12:30 pm at the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center (4502 Ave I)

Meals sponsored by Platte Valley Bank Farm and Ranch Management.

Speakers include Weston Svoboda, and Jessica Groskopf. These workshops will cover:

• Estate and succession planning: key considerations, decisions, and available tools
• Transfer, death, and tax implications including portability
• The use of LLCs in succession planning: buy-sell agreements and asset protection
• Options, lease rights, and preemptive rights
• Finance and management issues in succession strategies

“These workshops are intended to help farm and ranch families start, continue, or refine their succession and estate plans,” said Jessica Groskopf. “Planning for the future ensures a smooth transition to the next generation and protects the legacy of Nebraska’s agricultural producers.”

While the workshop is free, we kindly ask that you register ahead of time to help us prepare meals and materials. To register or for more information, please contact the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

This event is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA22CPT0012189.

Free Farm and Ranch Succession Workshops in January

These clinics are for farmers and ranchers and their families. They are confidential, one-on-one sessions with an experienced Ag Law attorney and Ag finance counselor. These clinics have been offered in Nebraska since 1989. In a roughly hour-long session, you are welcome to bring up whatever issues might be affecting your farm or ranch. In general, clinic discussions often involve estate and succession planning, financial and operational issues, beginning farmer programs, real estate and lease matters, fence law, property rights, farm loans and loan programs, and debtor/creditor law. Here is an opportunity to obtain an experienced outside opinion on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch. Bring your questions!

The FREE farm and ranch clinics will be in these locations:

January 2026 Clinic dates:

• North Platte - Wednesday, January 14th
• Valentine - Wednesday, January 21st
• Norfolk - Thursday, January 22nd
• Nebraska City - Monday, January 26th

To sign up for a clinic or for more information, call the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture Nebraska Rural Response Hotline sponsors the clinics.