Last month’s government shutdown gave farmers experience in how to deal with their finances just in case another one occurs at the end of the week. The government shutdown closed the federal Farm Service Agency for 35 days, which controls different programs farmers need and signs off on livestock sales. Kewaunee County UW-Extension agriculture agent Aerica Bjurstrom says farmers need to have a secondary plan just in case they find themselves without a way to cash checks or sign up for loans.

UW Extension offices in northeast Wisconsin are hosting another workshop in March aimed at families feeling the economic and emotional stress of farming. You can find more details on that program online with this story.