Conservation easements are a powerful tool to protect farm and ranchland from development and keep it in the family. How do they work? Each conservation easement is a legal agreement that binds to the land into the future. It becomes part of the title of the land. Depending on the reason for the easement, different […]
Isn’t it truly amazing that it only takes a twinkle of clear lights strung around a fir tree to ignite wonder in the eyes and hearts of our children and grandchildren? Baking sugar cookies around the breakfast table, wondering if every light up in the sky is Santa’s sleigh approaching, a single snowflake falling to […]
A family farm is a very important asset that in many situations has been passed down and worked for generations. At the same time, the value for farmland has continued to increase dramatically and is now very valuable. To ensure that your asset is properly protected and passed down to the next generation, working with […]
A family farm typically involves family members who are fully invested in the continuation of the agricultural lifestyle as well as those who are not interested in living or working on the operation. Rarely do all members of the family have the same goals. If they do there is the equally hard decision of how […]
Farming is a vital role in society, producing enough food to feed not only every person but livestock as well. This places a big pressure on the shoulder of each farm in that their yearly crop needs to be plentiful. So why not pass some of the responsibility onto someone else? A farm hand is […]
The success and continuity of family businesses are the cornerstones of the American dream. It usually starts with a married couple building a business and later adding the grown children. Part of this dream is passing a thriving business down from generation to generation. What if, however, the children do not have the same vision […]
Planning your farm legacy is a very personal process. The plan involves all your financial information, as well as all the family dynamics that go into running a family farm. Laying it all on the table and dealing with the reality of tax laws is the only way to make wise decisions for the future. […]
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Establishing Farm Family Boundaries
Living and working on a family farm is a dream for many people, but is the reality becoming a nightmare? There are many benefits to working side by side with your family, but it is also easy for boundary lines to be crossed and fences broken. It is important to keep lines of communication open […]
Creating a detailed estate plan for the family farm is an essential component to building a successful operation. There are many aspects to consider when determining how to sustain farm operations without alienating members of the family. Three common solutions for keeping harmony and assets intact include purchase options and willing the land to heirs. […]
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2 Tips for Farm Widows
When operating a farm with your spouse, as unfortunate as it is, there will be a day when one of you is left to operate the farm on your own. For farm widows, this can become an overwhelming task. That is why it is especially important to have a plan for passing your farm from […]
