Completed Project Report


Improving Sustainability within Farm Families and Between New and Retiring Farmers by Cultivating Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills

  • Award Amount: $36,225
  • Regional Center: Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2015 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Deborah Teeter
  • Email: dlt22@cornell.edu
  • Organization: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

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Project Overview

This project addressed the need for improved communication and conflict resolution skills on family farms and between new and retiring farmers or landowners and identified common goals for the future and strategies for achieving those goals.

These objectives were reached through five workshops focusing on inter-generational and
non-family communication, conflict resolution, estate planning and farm transition, and understanding business structures followed by one-one business and legal consultation. The target audience was drawn from a seven-county region in central New York: Cayuga, Cortland, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Seneca, and Cayuga.

Participants were empowered to communicate effectively across generational lines and
within new relationships between new and retiring farmers to resolve disagreements and work towards a shared vision of farm transition.

Seventy percent of participants finished the workshop series with a well-developed estate plan and the remaining participants have an effective tool box for future farm transition.

Number of Participants: 96

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

There are no educational materials available for this project.

REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.

DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES