The Farm Mediation Service provides one-on-one free clinics on farm transition and business succession planning with their partner, Legal Aid of Nebraska. They cover goals, communication, financial viability, the transfer process, family dynamics, and expectations in a business setting.

Call the Farm Hotline at 800-464-0258 and schedule an appointment at one of the clinics listed below.

Legal and Financial Clinics:
May 3	Grand Island
May 10	Norfolk
May 10	North Platte
May 11	Valentine
May 17	Lexington
May 17	Beatrice
May 31	Norfolk

Net Worth Raised to $200,000
The net worth eligibility requirement for a beginning farmer has been increased to $200,000 for 2012. Net worth is defined in the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act Regulations as “The beginning farmer’s or livestock producer’s total family assets, valued at their fair market value, less the beginning farmer’s or livestock producer’s total family indebtedness…”

Finance Class Requirement
Effective January 1, 2012, all new beginning farmer applicants must satisfy the financial management program requirement at time of application. The financial management program shall include coursework on the creation and proper use of record-keeping systems, monthly and year-end cash flow analysis, detailed enterprise analysis and consultations with the instructor. See the Financial Management Training Tab for approved courses. 

Beginning March 15, 2011, the Beginning Farmer Program will be posting monthly a Nebraska Forecasted Marketing Year Average Price for corn, soybeans, and wheat that applicants may wish to use in their applications for the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, when a share crop lease is used. The forecasted marketing year average price is being provided as a guideline for what a reasonable price expectation may be for the upcoming marketing year, as of the date of the application.