Family farms have been disappearing over the years, with the number of dairy farms dropping more than 90% since 1970. There are many benefits to having a family farm, which we will take a look at here. The Animals A love for animals is a key factor for many who become farmers. Having the patience to care […]
Tag: succession planning
It’s a common tradition in the farming industry that estates are passed down within the family to continue production for upcoming generations. It used to be as simple as signing over the deed to your children, and then they simply took over. Today, however, with the numerous estate laws now in place, retiring farmers need […]
Farming families are built tough and ready to handle the changing seasons and all the challenges the world can throw at them. You want to keep the farm in the family long after your retirement, cultivating a family farm that continues to pass down through the generations. In some cases, however, you may struggle to […]
“It’s not what you have when you leave this world behind you… it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” – Randy Travis The fresh morning air, the way that the grass always feels wet right before the sun comes up even when it’s not raining and the clean smell of harvest and happiness […]
Keeping a farm in the family through several generations takes good planning, excellent communication and more than a little bit of luck. Often succession planning is not considered early enough by either generation. Often, families “talk”, but not about the business of the farm and it’s future. Fathers do not know if their offspring are […]
Do you have a succession plan in place for your farm? Most businesses have succession plans in place to help ease the transition when the current leadership steps down, but we don’t often hear about farmers making succession plans, and as we know, farms are businesses. A succession plan is a plan identifying internal talent to […]
Family farming is one of the most challenging and rewarding professions there is. Farmers are more connected to nature than most people. Farmers understand the complexities of working with their land to produce food for our nation. Multi-generational farming passes on the knowledge, wisdom, and traditions to the next generation. But what can farmers learn from the next generation […]
When considering transitioning the family farm to a member (or members) of the next generation, all parties should carefully evaluate the financial health of the farm. Some of the questions may be sensitive, but both the parent and child will need to face them openly and honestly in order to ensure the current and future […]
Managing your family farm is a rewarding job, but just like every other business, it also brings its share of conflict. Ongoing tensions can destroy workers’ morale and – through lower productivity – can hurt your chances of maintaining financial sustainability. There are two key steps to avoiding conflict on the farm: Anticipate the Conflict […]
Keeping the farm in the family in the family is more than just a nice tradition. It is a way to provide security for yourself in retirement, establish your own legacy, and to help your posterity plan for their future. Farming presents many challenges no matter what you grow or where you grow it. Uncertainties in […]
