As farmers, we face daily struggles. Family farms looking to transition from one generation to the next, face even greater challenges. When the children of the family are young, it’s easy to put off future planning. When they enter the teenage years, their contribution is great and this is, quite possibly, the most productive time for […]
Category: Multigenerational Farming
Since every farmer, and every farm, is unique, estate planning should fit the uniqueness of a situation. This is especially true when transitioning a farm to a new owner. One of the key elements of any transition is fairness – to the owner and the new owner. When the transition involves a direct family member, a common approach is to […]
Whether you have a long, multi-generational background in farming or are a newcomer to the business, successful farming consists of a multitude of components. Every farm and each farm family is different in their approach, focus, and goals. In spite of this, there are some new ideas as well as old principles that can help secure […]
As farm acreage becomes more costly pushed higher by institutional investors, managing an affordable transfer of farm assets complicates Succession Planning. For many farmers close to retirement age, decisions concerning farm transfer must try to accommodate disparate goals. For example, farm succession planning may involve accommodating career-minded heirs who want to preserve the family farm […]
Between 2007 and 2012, the number of farms in the U.S. decreased as their average size increased, indicating further erosion of the small family farm market share in relation to Big Ag and conglomerates. It’s increasingly difficult for small family farmers to make money or shape farm policy in an environment where Big Ag rules. Yet […]
Whether you and your loved ones are currently practicing the family farming lifestyle, are considering implementing some farming techniques, or simply want to celebrate the unique farming way of life, try picking up some literature that everyone can indulge in together. 1. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan This classic takes place in the Midwestern […]
Heritage breeds, CSAs, farmer’s markets, artisan cheese: farming is getting an injection of cool from farmers looking to change the face of agriculture in America. Clean food, slow food, organic food, local food: the movements may be a small part of the agricultural giant, but their share is growing. Consumers are starting to pay attention. They want […]
Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields is a multi-award winning short documentary about the training programs and internships being developed by and for returning veterans who have transitioned to farming. Out of 21 million US veterans, 800,000 are unemployed and 100,000 are unemployed and homeless. US farmers are getting older, and young farmers are not stepping up to […]
Family farms are as American as apple pie and baseball, but one source of controversy and confusion to many farmers is the role of corporations and farms. A North Dakota proposal is bringing the issue back to the forefront for many American farmers. At the heart of the question is can family farms and corporate farms co-exist? […]
Killer frost, monsoon rains and drought have been our concerns since the first seed was deliberately pushed into the earth by a human hand. We have always been at the mercy of weather patterns, but we knew to plan for bad years. Extreme climatic changes have now taken the issue to a level of urgency. […]
