A4-part land management series titled “The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land-Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women” will focus on the basics of land management, leasing and conservation for landlords and tenants and will be held at the Ellsworth County Courthouse meeting room from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.
The series will focus on writing agricultural lease agreements, landlord-tenant relationships, negotiations and conservation practices. The program is open to both women and men and is a collaboration between Extension Women in Agriculture programs at Purdue University, Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
According to Department of Agriculture census data from 2017, there are more than 90,000 women producers and over 51,000 female landlords in the three states of Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana.  
“Women represent an important and growing demographic in agricultural land management, and this workshop series will teach essential management information while providing participants the chance to ask questions, connect with each other and share their experiences,” Extension Farm Economist with K-State Research and Extension Robin Reid said.  
Each state will host a number of workshop sites with local extension personnel. Keynote speakers will be simulcast to each location, each site will provide additional speakers and hands-on activities and dinner will be included.  
Reid 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,” Reid 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.”
The workshops seek to help participants increase awareness of local land values and cash rental rates and the factors that influence them. They 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 participants will have a greater understanding of compliance requirements and increase their awareness of voluntary conservation programs available to them.  
The series of workshops costs $50 per person, including dinner each night. Participants should plan to attend each session. A virtual option is available for those unable to attend a workshop site, although in-person attendance is highly encouraged to better network with other attendees and interact with speakers.
Registration is required by Jan. 13 and may be completed at www.agmanager.info/events under the program “The Power of Negotiation and Communication: Land-Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Ag Women,” or contact the Midway District for assistance registering or for more information at (785) 472-4442 or (785) 483-3157.