Transferring the Farm

There’s a lot of talk about “succession” being tossed around in agriculture. It occurred to me that some people might not be quite sure what that term means, especially since we seem to have more than one kind of succession to talk about. Currently, a lot of the talk seems to be centered on business […]

“It’s easier to talk to your children about sex than farmland transition.” – An Iowa farmer

The National Young Farmers Coalition has just released a guidebook to Farm Service Agency loans that will have you walking through the bureaucracy with ease. The best part? It’s FREE. Get it here!

Are you a “senior” farmer or headed that direction, and wondering what retirement might look like, or IF there could be retirement? Here are a few steps to figuring out where to go that are especially helpful with family coming together for the Holidays.

In the spirit of examining ways to acquire land through seller-financing, it is time to take a look at land contracts.  The land contract is a variation of the owner-financed sale, with both mechanisms being a way for a farmer-buyer to come to terms with an owner-seller, independent of third-party bank financing or complementary to […]

Thanks to the CSA Solutions Hub for sharing this article by Alex. While it was originally written for CSA oriented farmers, the principles are just as true for all farmers and ranchers hoping to work with interns. If you didn’t see Part 1, here it is. Learning – Patience Is a Virtue We’re always struck […]

Thanks to the CSA Solutions Hub for sharing this article by Alex. While it was originally written for CSA oriented farmers, the principles are just as true for all farmers and ranchers hoping to work with interns. I’d be willing to bet that the vast majority of direct-market farmers started as interns or apprentices on […]

Farming should be about making way for the next generation, as well as serving the needs of the present.

Agreements are an important to your success building your enterprise. Here’s what’s worked for Ryan Sexson in Nebraska.

Ryan Sexson shares how his family is building their future by working with others to think differently about transferring a farm/ranch to the next generation.

Beginning Jan. 9, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts in order to make it easier to transfer property to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including family members. Normally if a landowner terminates a CRP contract early, they are required […]

Conservation easements are a way to protect open lands such as farms and ranches, wildlife habitats, historic and cultural sites, and scenic vistas from development, while keeping them in private ownership. Conservation easements are flexible to meet the needs of the landowner, protect private property rights while providing compensation to landowners, and can be a […]

For centuries, skilled trades have used apprenticeships to train the next generation and ensure that everyone meets standards that are good for the trade and good for the customers being served. Now Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is using this model to help new farmers entering the world of dairy production, and to support established farmers as […]

Usually ranchers worry problems that could be caused by a threatened or endangered species on or near their operations. But in this case, a species being considered for listing helped ranchers ensure their land would always stay in agriculture.

It’s a tough topic, but a good one to get started on, maybe by thinking about these 10 questions. Maybe you can just stick them on your refrigerator as a first step. 🙂