The Kansas State Research and Extension (KSRE), the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Purdue University Extension have teamed up to offer a multistate succession-planning series for Midwestern farm women starting Jan. 21.

This innovative four-part series of succession-planning workshops will be held in person at sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana using a livestreamed keynote presentation and local hands-on activities for participants. There are 63 in-person sites available, so participants can choose the location nearest them. There’s also a full online version of the program available. All sessions will start with dinner at 5 p.m. and conclude by 8:30 p.m. For the Syracuse and Goodland, Kan., locations, all sessions will start at 4:30 p.m. MST.

The sessions will cover estate and transition planning, as well as strategies to evaluate and improve existing plans. Topics will include asset transfer, family communication, legal issues, what to include in a plan and how to build a team.

Workshops will be Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11. Registration for in-person attendance is $60 before Jan. 12 and includes meals and educational materials. After Jan. 12, the fee increases to $75, and a workbook is not guaranteed. Learn more at agmanager.info/events/leaving-lasting-legacy-midwestern-farm-women.

Related:2024 Kansas Agricultural Land Values and Trends report now available

KSU Swine Profitability Conference set for Feb. 4

Kansas State University’s 2025 Swine Profitability Conference is planned for Feb. 4 in Manhattan.

The conference will feature speakers from an array of swine-related businesses and organizations, including:

The conference will take place at the Stanley Stout Center, 2200 Denison Ave., in Manhattan. The day begins with coffee and doughnuts at 9:15 a.m., and the program starts at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is included in the conference, which will end at 3 p.m.

Related:What should the next generation bring to a succession plan?

Registration is $25 per participant and due by Jan. 24. Attendees can register at the door for $50 per participant. More information, including online registration, is available at KSUSwine.org.

KDA and KSU offer series of Local Food Producer Workshops

The Kansas Department of Agriculture and KSRE will offer six regional Local Food Producer Workshops to assist farmers market vendors and managers, as well as those wanting to sell food products directly to consumers.

Workshops will cover topics such as marketing; food safety; regulations on selling meat, eggs and poultry; sales tax for vendors; and Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition training. KDA’s weights and measures program also will offer free scale certification at the workshops.

The workshops will be

Registration is $25 per participant. Registration and more information can be found at FromtheLandofKansas.com/FMworkshop, at ksre-learn.com/food-producer-workshops or at local extension offices.

Related:Set the table for a smooth transition

For more information, contact Robin Dolby, KDA’s “From the Land of Kansas” marketing coordinator, at 785-564-6756 or [email protected]. The workshops are funded by the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops and the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and sponsored by KSRE and KDA.

Kansas food sales tax fully eliminated Jan. 1

Kansas consumers got a tax break Jan. 1, as the total elimination of the state sales tax on groceries finally went into effect.

Starting in 2021, talks began in the Kansas Legislature to eliminate state sales tax on groceries. The result was a stair-step reduction of the food sales tax starting in 2023, reducing the rate from 6.5% to 4%, then in 2024, reducing the rate to 2%, and finally eliminating it all together in 2025.

Projections are that Kansas will save $13 million per month this year. The average family of four should save $500 per year, according to the Kansas Governor’s Office.

The state sales tax reduction applies to food, food ingredients and certain prepared foods. Shoppers will see two tax rates on their receipts going forward, one for qualifying purchases and one for all other items.