Farm Business Basics Series: Whole Farm Planning: Healthcare, Health Insurance and Childcare

Cheri Burk<burkcher@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - March 17, 2025

If you’re exploring new health insurance options, building your farm budget for the upcoming year, or looking at changes in your family or childcare needs, these workshops are for you!

Wondering where healthcare, health insurance and childcare fit in your farm plan? Michigan State University Extension is offering two workshops to help farms navigate these important subjects this April during their Whole Farm Planning workshop.

Every farm and family are different. In MSU Extension’s interactive workshop you will learn practical tips to 1) integrate your healthcare, health insurance and childcare into farm risk management, and 2) integrate those costs into household and/or farm enterprise budgets. You will leave with information to share with other family members and questions to explore with tax accountants, legal advisors, and farm business management advisors.

There are many benefits to raising children on the farm, but it can also be stressful. In this interactive workshop you will learn practical tips on designing your farm for family well-being, integrating childcare into farm risk management, and deciding how to apply childcare costs to farm and/or household budgets.

Both workshops are funded by USDA North Central Region SARE. These innovative workshops are part of a series bringing critical resources to farmers, addressing essential yet often overlooked aspects of farm viability. Based on USDA and CDC research, we highlight how access to health care and health insurance significantly impacts economic growth, risk management, farm safety, and quality of life. Join us in strengthening resilience and sustainability on the farm—your operation and quality of life will benefit!

Whole Farm Planning: Healthcare and Health Insurance: Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 4:30-6 p.m.

Whole Farm Planning: Childcare: Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 4:30-6 p.m.

Registration is required and limited to 20 attendees. Register for one or both:

Farm Business Basics Series Whole Farm Planning Registration

Both workshops are in-person at the Clio Area Library, 2080 W Vienna Rd, Clio, Mich, 48420

These are free workshops presented by Michigan State University Extension. To participate, registration is required. To register today, visit: https://events.anr.msu.edu/farmbusinessbasics/ or call Cheri Burk: 989-895-4026 burkcher@msu.edu or Kelly McClelland: 810-244-8555 mccle100@msu.edu with questions.

These workshops are the first of a five-part Farm Business Basics Series. Watch for the three remaining virtual events, to be published soon, including:

May 14 – Farm Succession Planning
May 21 – Spreadsheet-based farm accounting and analysis
May 28 – Grants and Cost Share Programs for Farmers

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).