University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is pleased to announce Stephanie Plaster as the new Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialist. The Farm Management Outreach Specialist position is a new, exciting position in the UW–Madison Division of Extension. This position will identify needs and provide outreach education to find solutions to the most critical issues facing Wisconsin agricultural producers in the areas of farm financial and strategic business management.
Financially viable, healthy farm businesses are essential to Wisconsin’s $100 billion agriculture economy. Farmers must continually identify and evaluate opportunities and challenges to meet their mission and goals and enhance their competitive position. With this comes an increased need for effective business management skills for farm owners and managers. Whether beginning, early career, or established operations looking to expand, transition, or diversify their enterprises or invest in new ideas or technology – successful farm businesses utilize strategic business information, resources and tools to make informed decisions.
Part of the Agriculture Institute’s Farm Management Program, this position will emphasize:
- Financial and strategic business management for commodity and specialty crop farms, including:
- Identifying and evaluating opportunities for agricultural businesses to meet their mission and goals, and enhance their competitive position.
- Identifying challenges to these opportunities resulting from variability of prices received, access to new markets, prices of inputs, and new technologies and practices affecting both yield and quality.
Stephanie Plaster has been integral to the Extension Farm Management Program since joining Extension in 2013. Her contributions to the Program help build valuable programming in the area of farm business development and transition. Stephanie was previously the Regional Agriculture Extension Educator for Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties. As the new Farm Management Outreach Specialist she will leverage her 10+ years of experience in the field to enhance the competitiveness of farms and the agricultural industry across Wisconsin.
Stephanie started her new role as a state outreach specialist on May 16th. In this role, Stephanie’s work will add value to that of partner organizations and community members through collaborations to develop and deliver educational programs for ag commodity and specialty crop industries across Wisconsin. Please feel free to contact Stephanie; she can be reached directly via email stephanie.plaster@wisc.edu or phone 262-277-6809. Her office is located at the Extension Ozaukee County office at 121 W Main St in Port Washington. Learn more about Stephanie’s work at https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/author/plaster/