The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host three agricultural leasing seminars across the state in September 2026. These no-cost seminars are offered to address questions that landowners, tenants, or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland, including:
- Setting a rental rate
- Land management considerations
- Legal risks associated with leases
- Strategies for effective communication with tenants and landowners
- Terminating an agricultural lease
- Miscellaneous topics in agricultural leasing
“More than one-third of Wisconsin’s farmland is rented, and strong landowner/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s valuable farmland,” said Kelly Wilfert, attorney and Farm Law Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison Extension. “Every agreement is unique, and attending a workshop is a great way to learn more or ask questions on specific aspects of farm lease arrangements.”
Farm Lease Seminar Locations and Dates
- Dodgeville, Wisconsin: September 16, 2026, 1–3 p.m., Health & Human Services Building Community Room, 303 W Chapel St, Dodgeville, WI 53533
- Abbotsford, Wisconsin: September 17, 2026, 1–3 p.m., Abbotsford City Hall, 203 N. 1st Street, Abbotsford, WI 54405
- Altoona, Wisconsin: September 23, 2026, 1–3 p.m., Extension Eau Claire County, 227 1st St West, Altoona, WI 54720
More About the Seminars
Each registered participant will receive a free copy of the Wisconsin Guide to Farmland Leasing, a new guide that covers legal issues, designing lease payment structures and calculating payments, and leasing as part of a farm succession plan, as well as sample lease forms for negotiating lease agreements.
To ensure enough copies of the materials, registration is required. To register, visit go.wisc.edu/FarmLease2026.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make this event more accessible. It takes time to make arrangements. To help us serve you best, please contact us at kelly.wilfert@wisc.edu as early as you can, but no later than September 9, 2026. There is no added cost to you for these services.
For more information, contact Kelly Wilfert at kelly.wilfert@wisc.edu or (608) 263-5798.
Workshop and resources partially supported by USDA NIFA 2025-70028-45437.