Since 1986, NY FarmNet has helped thousands of farmers through free, on-farm consulting services that focus on both the financial side of operating a farm and the dynamics that come with owning a family business.

How we can help

Whatever your question or concern, NY FarmNet can help clarify your problem, brainstorm solutions, and develop a plan of action.

Depending on your specific question or concern, NY FarmNet will:

      • Answer you directly
      • Send you information
      • Refer you to a different agency or resource
      • Assign a NY FarmNet consultant to help you and your family

Topics we help with include (but are not limited to):

Financial analysis

Knowing where a business stands financially is a critical step in identifying options for a brighter future. Financial planning and analysis will give you accurate information to make decisions that impact the future of your business. Moreover, one-on-one meetings with a NY FarmNet financial consultant can uncover options for the future that may not have been thought of before.

  • Analyzing the present profitability of your farm

  • Identifying options for improving farm viability

  • Helping create useful cash flow budgets

  • Evaluating proposed business changes and their impact on profitability

  • Working with others to provide options for debt restructuring

Business Planning

A farm business plan is now required by most lenders. A business plan lets you know where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. We offer free assistance with farm business analysis and planning. Our experienced consultants understand farm business and can provide you with the detailed map you need to move forward.

  • Financial and production analysis

  • Feasibility studies

  • Business plans

  • Budgets and cash flow projection

Farming with family

NY FarmNet consultants provide free, confidential assistance in strengthening the communication skills required for farm families to make the most of their dynamic structure.

  • Setting goals

  • Conflict management

  • Management principles

  • Conducting family meetings

  • Financial management

  • Business decision making

  • Time management

  • Farm succession planning

Personal Well-being

The pressures of running a farm can affect every aspect of your life. NY FarmNet’s family consultants can support you when dealing with issues that can disrupt your business, family, or personal well-being. Our consultants can assist with strategies to manage:

  • Stress-related emotional issues

  • Relationship issues

  • Family and/or parent-child concerns

  • Domestic violence

  • Alcohol and drug concerns

  • Grief/loss

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Farm conflicts and concerns

  • Farm retirement, transfer, or exit adjustment

Agribusiness Professionals

We know that agricultural businesses are a critical part of our farming communities. NY FarmNet has expanded its services to work individually with agricultural business professionals who work directly with farmers in New York State. NY FarmNet will offer small and medium-sized agribusiness employees and owners free, confidential consulting from family consultants to address any personal well-being and behavioral health challenges they may be experiencing, as well as build resiliency. 

NY FarmNet family consultants will focus on communicating with customers, navigating conflict, stress management, coaching, relationship support, coping with COVID-19 stress, planning and time management, as well as referrals to additional resources. We will not be offering financial consulting services to this group, and our work with farmers will continue uninterrupted.

Retirement & Estate Planning

Planning for retirement can take as much effort as managing the business. With years of experience gained from helping other farm families, we can help plan the process so you are not alone.

  • Retirement planning

  • Long-term care

  • Estate planning

  • Leasing farm assets

  • Selling farm assets

  • Income tax planning

  • Legal questions

Business Transfers

Transferring your business requires careful managerial and financial planning. We know that farm assets are a major source of retirement income for many farm families. NY FarmNet is dedicated to providing farmers with assistance in all aspects of business transfers including;

  • Succession planning

  • Non-family transfers

  • Joint ventures/partnerships

  • Help for start-up farmers

FAQ

  • NY FarmNet is a free and confidential consulting service available to any farm located in New York State. We help farmers with any personal or financial issues that your farm may be experiencing. FarmNet has a network of consultants, who work one-on-one with farm families to resolve financial and personal issues. Our consultants are willing to speak with you on the phone or come out to your farm for a visit.

  • You will speak confidentially with a staff member who is knowledgeable about agricultural issues. You will be asked to briefly discuss the issue you called about. FarmNet staff can supply information, make a referral, or put you in contact with a FarmNet consultant, depending upon your needs and concerns. You will be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, and general farm data, all of which are kept confidential.

  • Sometimes we will need to research a specific topic and will need to call you back. Farm data and location are necessary to determine regional and farm-type resources. Individual farm information is not shared with anyone.

  • FarmNet services are provided to farmers, farm families, and agribusiness employees at no cost. Sometimes you may be referred to another agency that may charge a fee for their services, but all FarmNet services (including consulting) are free.

  • NY FarmNet is funded through grants, contracts and sponsorships (both public and private). The main sponsor of FarmNet is the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), but there are many other sponsors that may vary from year to year.

  • FarmNet is housed and administered by Cornell University, and is coordinated with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Sponsors and affiliates make referrals to FarmNet because their customers benefit from working with FarmNet. FarmNet remains an objective, professional and confidential program with a focus on providing support to farmers.

  • Yes! FarmNet has a 24/7 phone line at 1-800-547-3276 (FARM) that you may call to request service. The "net" in FarmNet refers to the network of services and resources that are available to support farm families and businesses.