SARE Training Helps Strengthen Farm Operations

By Scout Nelson

North Dakota farmers and ranchers are invited by the North Dakota Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program to attend a series of educational sessions focused on farm labor, and business planning. The workshops and webinars are designed to provide practical guidance that helps producers make informed decisions.

The program includes one in-person workshop and two follow-up webinars. Participants may attend the workshop, the webinars, or both, depending on their needs. The sessions focus on real-world challenges farmers, and ranchers face when hiring workers and structuring their farm businesses.

“Farmers and ranchers are facing increasingly complex decisions around labor,” says Jeff Gale, North Dakota State University Extension agriculture and natural resources agent and co-coordinator of SARE in the state. “These workshops and webinars provide practical, real-world guidance to help producers make informed choices that strengthen their operations and support long-term success.”

The in-person workshop takes place on Feb. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CST at the North Dakota Farmers Union headquarters in Jamestown, North Dakota. The morning session focuses on the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. Topics include legal, financial, and ethical considerations such as housing, wages, and application timelines.

The afternoon session examines farm business structures. Presenters compare sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. The discussion highlights liability protection, governance, taxation, and risk management.

Two webinars follow the in-person event. The March 3 webinar covers employee benefits, including bonuses, health insurance support, and legal considerations. The March 10 webinar focuses on farm liability, insurance options, and risk management strategies.

The webinars will be led by Rachel Armstrong, executive director of Farm Commons, a national nonprofit organization that helps farmers understand legal issues. The sessions emphasize discussion, real-life examples, and questions from participants.

Registration is available. It costs $50 per person, with a deadline of Feb. 18. Additional information is available through North Dakota SARE coordinators.

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