University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is pleased to announce Kelly T. Wilfert as the new Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist, focused on farm business legal risk management. This Farm Management Outreach Specialist position is a new, exciting position within the UW–Madison Division of Extension. Kelly will identify needs and provide outreach and education for solutions to the most critical issues facing Wisconsin agricultural producers in the area of farm legal risk management.
Profitable, healthy farm businesses are essential to Wisconsin’s $100 billion agriculture economy. Farmers must continually identify and evaluate opportunities and challenges to enhance their competitive position. Legal risk is part of any beginning, transitioning or succession of farm business. Risk also results from uncertainties surrounding policies and regulations related to tax laws, food safety, labeling and marketing, environmental issues or markets such as clean air and water, solar and carbon credits, government commodity and income support programs, and the legal liabilities of a variety of litigious issues faced by farms. Successful farms will depend upon skillful business management, requiring information, resources, and analysis for informed decision-making.
As the new Farm Management Outreach Specialist Kelly Wilfert will leverage her experience in the legal field to enhance the competitiveness of farms and the agricultural industry across Wisconsin. Kelly will focus on legal issues impacting farms, agribusinesses, and rural communities. While Kelly does not provide legal advice, her programming aims to improve farm access to legal services by helping interpret legal concepts, regulations, and case law. She identifies strategies for managing legal risk and maintaining or improving the success of implemented legal tools.
Kelly previously assisted farms, business, and banking clients with a variety of legal issues including entity formation, contracts, real estate, limiting liability, regulatory compliance, farm transfers, farm succession, and estate planning. She has also worked with Extension and partner organizations on risks related to farm succession and emerging agricultural opportunities including carbon credit and energy contracts.
Kelly grew up on a 700-acre farm in northeastern Wisconsin raising fresh market fruits and vegetables, cash grain, and processing vegetables. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Applied Economics from UW Madison and JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School. Kelly Wilfert is licensed to practice law in the state of Wisconsin and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the American Agricultural Law Association.
Kelly started as a state outreach specialist on August 21, 2023. Her work will add value to that of partner organizations and community members through collaboration to develop and deliver educational programs for ag commodity and specialty crop industries across Wisconsin. Her office is located at the Sheboygan County Extension Office, 5 University Drive, Sheboygan. Please feel free to contact Kelly; she can be reached directly via email kwilfert@wisc.edu or phone 608-263-5798. Learn more about Kelly.