Campbell: What is Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services Program?

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS) is a service available to Kansas residents who would like assistance in resolving all types of agricultural related issues. Agricultural producers, their lenders and others receiving an adverse decision from any of the USDA agencies including Farm Services Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development are encouraged to utilize these services.

The KAMS staff attorney is available to visit with callers, confidentially and at no cost, regarding any agricultural legal or financial issue, including such topics but not limited to answering questions regarding USDA denial letters, clarifying confusing paperwork, understanding appeal options available, agricultural credit situations, crop insurance, property rights issues, farm foreclosures, landlord/tenant disputes, family communications, family farm transitions, and rural water issues, etc.

KAMS specialists provide initial information and guidance at no cost through a toll-free hotline, 1-800-321-3276. Our state-wide network of cooperating agencies and programs includes a pool of trained agricultural mediators, K-State Research and Extension financial consultants and Kansas Legal Services (KLS). To find out more about mediation and KAMS, continue to explore the KAMS website at https://www.k-state.edu/kams/ or call.

Another service provided that probably not many in agriculture know about is AgKansitions, the Office of Farm and Ranch Transitions at Kansas State University, has a mission of keeping families on farms in the State of Kansas. AgKansitions is working towards that mission through three objectives: the Kansas LandLink Program, offering one-on-one technical support to farmers, and beginning farmer and rancher classes. With personalized consultations and access to local resources, we empower individuals to navigate and execute successful agricultural transitions.

If starting the process of succession planning has got you overwhelmed the office of AgKansitions and their attorney can assist you in starting that process too. Contact them at 785-532-4526, or [email protected] To view their web site and the resources available on it go to https://www.agkansitions.org/

As always if you have any questions or if we can ever help you please reach out to us at the Cottonwood Extension District with offices in Great Bend 620-793-1910 or Hays 785-628-9430.

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