Communication is the key to unlock all sorts of life’s mysteries. Babies learn to communicate so they can tell us what they think. Friends communicate with each other for enjoyment. Teachers communicate knowledge to their students. Why do farmers communicate together? They communicate to help each other out, to learn, and because it is vital […]
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In any workplace, tension is bound to arise. The family farm is no different. Lines are crossed, resentment is nurtured and, in the worst cases, bridges are burned. In spite of working with your family–or in some cases because of it–buttons are pushed and boundaries are bypassed. The resulting strain on the farm as well […]
Succession planning for a family farm is not always easy. There are often many relatives who are interested, as well as many that don’t want anything to do with the farm. For this reason, everyone needs to be involved in the discussion, whether they want in or not. Then, once a plan has been made, […]
Marriage is hard work in and of itself. Financial decisions, lifestyle choices, and parenting require time, energy, and strong communication. Working together, especially on a farm, can make sustaining a healthy marriage feel impossible sometimes. And a divorce for a farm couple can be devastating when both parties are attached to the land and the […]
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. […]
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 […]