Most farmers, like most people in their every day lives, are so busy with the challenges of daily life that they do not tend to take out time to contemplate their “legacy,” much less plan for it in specific ways. Like any successful venture, though, building a successful family farm that sustains your family practically […]
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From hailstorms to livestock disease, farm crises come in all shapes and sizes. Although they all spell an imminent threat to your operation, a well planned crisis management strategy is key to overcoming challenges. Three basic steps to developing a plan are: 1) Know Your Enemy Although it’s not always possible to stop the disaster from […]
Your farm is a family business, and, together, you are creating a legacy that will continue forward into the next generations. In order for your farm to be successful, there are many important components to consider. When you both live and work with the same people, it’s difficult to maintain a personal and professional life […]
It’s a good year on the farm when the weather cooperates with the crops, the prices are up, and the animals stay healthy. Then come difficult years. Prices drop, a wet spring delays planting, hail ruins a standing crop, and the young stock gets sick. When bad things happen on the farm, it’s not easy to […]
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Farmers Retire, Too!
You love your farm, so it can be difficult to think about your eventual retirement. There is a good chance you’re many years away from it as well, making it easier to put it off as a problem to deal with in the future. In reality, retirement is something we should begin thinking about and […]
Farming may be getting more difficult for you as the years of doing strenuous physical labor out in the elements are finally catching up to you. You may find that the once effortless task of climbing in and out of your farm equipment is not so easy anymore. You’ve noticed crawling under machinery for maintenance […]
The world runs on the strength of its farms — but unfortunately, the accident and injury rates for agricultural occupations are notoriously high. Even when highly skilled individuals work with heavy machinery, unpredictable livestock, and other hazards, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. An injury response plan should be a part of every family farm’s strategy, so here’s a […]
More than half of family farmers have a second job. It costs more to farm now, and profit margins are thinner. Corporations own their own land, cows, hogs — and they own the packing plant, making competition difficult. The price of farmland has skyrocketed. Farming is hard work, and it’s hard to make a living […]
Family farms are unique. Many children stick around to help. They marry and bring children into the family, adding more people to feed and help. Conflict is really common and it gets worse the more people that work together on the farm. Here are some more tips to help everyone work together on the family […]
As your children age, they may stick around and continue to help around the farm. They may marry, bringing another person in to help with the load. It can be hard for families to work together day-after-day without having conflicts. Here are some tips to help everyone work together on the family farm. Make sure […]
