Contents

Mission Statement

To provide farm families with a network of contacts and support services to help them develop skills for dealing with life challenges and transitions - through personalized education, confidential consulting, and referral.

What We Do

Free, Confidential Consulting

Consulting

Free and confidential on-farm consultants help farm families answer business and personal questions about any topic of concern, including: finances, farm changes, farm transfer, natural disaster, personal stress, family communication, and marital conflict.

“FarmNet really got us going in the right direction.” Western New York Dairy Farmer

“The consultant helped us a great deal to learn how to have meetings without fighting. Our family was not comfortable with discussing personal matters with someone in the private sector. The fact that this was a confidential farm organization made us more comfortable, so we called for help.” Eastern New York Farmer

“When we called FarmNet we got a quick response. We met with the consultant and he helped us understand the changes we needed to make on the farm. We appreciate the fact that someone was there to give us the kind of help we needed. We wouldn't have known what to do.” Western New York Farmer

“Working with the NY FarmNet consultant has definitely been for the betterment of our farm business and family.” Western New York Farmer

Information and Referral

Individualized assistance based on the questions and concerns expressed by the farm caller.

NY FarmNet may either:

Answer questions directly
Send information from an extensive library
Make referrals to other agencies and resources
Assign a NY FarmNet consultant to help the farmer or farm family address the issues.

After working with the NY FarmNet Consultant, we got some things changed. I always mention FarmNet to people who are having problems. If you have a problem, FarmNet can either help you, or can refer you to someone who can help. Central New York Farmer

“I find the FarmNet Consultants to be concerned, caring individuals with a great wealth of knowledge and back up support that they provide farmers during difficult times.” Agricultural Lender

Referrals used in the past include, but are not limited to:

NY FarmLink
Ag Mediation
Agricultural Lenders
Cooperative Education and CCE Educators
Lawyers
Agricultural organizations
State/community agencies
Utility Representatives
Education/Employment Resources
Local mental health or counseling services

Links to other sources of information

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Resource Library

Publications are available, covering a wide range of financial and personal topics, such as Farm Management, Business Transfer, Farm Transitions, Legal information, Family and Personal Matters, and Employment.

Education/support groups:

FarmNet can help develop and facilitate education and support groups tailored to current issues such as: Coping with Natural Disaster, Improving Marital and Family Communication, Stress Management, and Educational workshops.

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We were concerned about transferring some of our farm assets to our farm manager, who had been building equity over time. We needed some dircetion and advice on where to get started on the process. We called FarmNet and worked with a consultant who helped us see what we needed to do… We went ahead and accomplished our goal. It went very smoothly. Central New York Farmer

Newsletters

2005 Newsletter (pdf 1.3MB)

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Hear more about what Farmers and Agriservice Professionals have to say about NY FarmNet:

“FarmNet is good for having someone to bounce ideas off of. When I called, I needed to get ideas on how to go about certain things and needed someone to look at my situation from the outside - someone with an unbiased view.” Western New York Fruit Grower

“They're honest. Farmers want honest answers. They need an impartial third party. That is what FarmNet is.” Ag Lender

“It did a lot of good to meet with the consultant. It got communication going. The guys aren't afraid to say what's on their mind now. I would call [FarmNet] again in a minute.” Western NY Dairy Farmer

“FarmNet is very easy to talk to.” Ag Lender

“For me, the things I wanted to discuss with Farmnet were the kinds of things you don't want to share with neighbors. It is was too personal. . .FarmNet was definitely helpful.” Western New York Fruit Grower

The FarmNet consultant helped us work on how we handle family communications. We have learned to get along better by thinking how we communicate. The consultant came when we really needed someone to talk to.” Central New York Farmer