The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program, in conjunction with women in agriculture programs at Purdue University and Kansas State University, will host a four-part extension workshop on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants.

“The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women” will begin Wednesday, Jan. 18 at numerous sites in Nebraska, Kansas and Indiana. The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices.

Workshops will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8.

According to Department of Agriculture census data from 2017, there are over 90,000 women producers and over 51,000 female landlords in the three states.

“Women represent an important and growing demographic in agricultural land management and this workshop series will teach essential management information while providing women the chance to ask questions, connect with each other and share their experiences,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program.

Each state will host multiple satellite workshop sites with local extension personnel. Keynote speakers will be simulcast to each location and each site will provide additional speakers and hands-on activities. Dinner will be included.

Groskopf said the program’s structure is intended to strengthen networks of women in rural areas, which can provide opportunities for building trust and sharing information.

“Connections are so important to women farmers,” she said. “We have seen the benefits that come from knowing your peers, having a place to share difficulties and mitigate the isolation that so many of us in agriculture often feel.”

These workshops seek to help participants increase their awareness of local land values and cash rental rates and the factors that influence them. They will also cover the importance of having a written lease and the items that should be included in it to ensure an equitable agreement for all parties. Participants will learn negotiation strategies as well as best practices to improve relationships between landlords and tenants.

Conservation programs will also be covered, so that participants will have a greater understanding of compliance requirements and increase their awareness of voluntary conservation programs that are available to them.

The workshop costs $50 per person and participants should plan to attend each session. A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, for $75 per person. In-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers. A list of locations in Nebraska is available on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website. Register there by Friday, Jan. 13.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694.