ST. PAUL (KMHL) – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering workshops this summer designed to help the people who serve farmers navigate potentially contentious situations.

“We know that times are increasingly stressful for Minnesota farmers,” said Moynihan. “Stressful times trigger bad news frequently and can also trigger some difficult conversation.”

Workshop topics will including reducing anxiety and fear about interpersonal conflict exploring the connection between conflict and change.

“We would like everybody coming out of those conversations feeling as good about themselves as possible, with the most productive solutions possible,” said Moynihan. “So this is really an effort to reduce everybody’s anxiety about those difficult interactions.”

The workshops will take place this month and next statewide, including in Detroit Lakes, Thief River Falls, Duluth, Marshall, Faribault and St. Cloud.