WICPA, Farm Bureau team up to address needs of Wisconsin farmers
June 04, 2026
The WICPA is currently working with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation to find accounting solutions for farmers in Wisconsin, and we could use your help.
The WICPA has been involved in several conversations with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau about a “Young & Beginning Farmer” program and a “Farm Transition and Succession” program.
From these discussions, one theme keeps surfacing from nearly every direction: the shortage of technical service providers available to actually make farm transitions and succession planning work on the ground. The focus is often on legal services and family dynamics, but the most consistent gap farmers identify is access to accountants and accounting services.
Because of this issue, the WICPA and Wisconsin Farm Bureau are collaborating to help find ideas and solutions. Initial ideas from these conversations include:
- CPE or targeted training for CPAs to work with agricultural clients on farm transfers, land and net worth valuations, etc.
- building a referral or advisory network of CPAs either trained in agricultural finance or willing to work with agricultural clients
- piloting an entry-level, low-cost feasibility review for farm transition
- developing legislation related to farm transition
“There is no shortage of ideas,” said WICPA President & CEO Tammy Hofstede in a message to members. “The goal is not to hand them a program to react to, but to collaboratively design something that works for accountants to help make farm transitions and succession planning more easily accomplished and feasible for our farmers.”
If you are interested in serving as a volunteer for these programs, email Hofstede at tammy@wicpa.org.
