Building the Bridge of Trust in Farm Succession
By understanding our own definition of “trust,” we can begin understanding how others trust, which in turn will assist in clear communication and conflict navigation.
Business Development, Transition & Succession
Failed to Plan? The Law Has Plans for You
When life takes an unexpected turn and you’re no longer there to guide the plow, who will inherit your hard-earned acres? Failing to plan can cast a shadow over your farm’s future.
Organic Transition: Purpose, Process, and Resources
Interested in transitioning to organic agriculture, or just curious? This article gives an overview of the organic transition process, certification requirements, and available resources to support your journey.
Recordkeeping Instructions and Templates for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Growers
This recordkeeping toolkit, produced by the Farmers’ Legal Action Group, includes easy-to-follow instructions and templates to help small-scale fruit and vegetable growers keep accurate farm records.
Adopting New Technology—Start with the Right Questions
Adopting new technology in agriculture is a significant investment that can be highly profitable if done well, or costly if not. The first step is to be aware of and understand the issues that can influence the outcome, followed by gathering the necessary information to make informed decisions.
Embracing Technology in Farming: What to Think About for the Future
Using technology in farming isn’t just a choice—it’s necessary. As farms use and rely on more technology, farmers and industry stakeholders are looking at advanced tools like robots, automated equipment, and self-driving machines.
Tensions of Farm Succession
Powering through the technical process of succession without acknowledging and addressing the tensions in your situation will give you a plan, but how long will it last when the tensions build to a breaking point?
Setting Business Strategy Using a SWOT Analysis
Table of Contents Introduction Strategic thinking is the intuitive, visual, and creative process you use to make decisions about your farm business. Strategic thinking is all about thinking ahead, predicting what your competition is going to do, and then taking risks to succeed. You’re thinking big, you’re thinking deep, and you’re thinking across time. You […]
Partnerships for Your Food or Farm Business
Key elements of a successful business partnership include open and honest communication, setting clear expectations, and defining quality standards emphasizing the importance of independence, flexibility, and documentation to ensure a successful partnership.
Finding the right people
Effective recruiting plans should be a critical part of your business model as you seek out key talent to help your business grow.
Finding the formula for success
Understanding the formula for success can provide a road map to achieving our purpose which brings us peace of mind and that desired sense of contentedness.
Permits, licenses, and labels
Take the next step by connecting with a licensing and permitting organization such as: Additional Resources
What’s next for the family farm: Resources help when making decisions
Farm succession planning has a lot of technical components that require accountants, consultants, tax specialists, and attorneys to figure out how and when the transition will happen. Read how Extension helped this family farm successfully transition to the next generation of owners.
Make Your Strategic Goals A Reality
The season of New Year’s resolutions is upon us. This time of year, we start reflecting on what we have accomplished and what we would like to achieve in the year ahead. Before jumping right into those new resolutions, take some time to remind yourself of your big-picture or long-term vision for yourself and your farm business, set strategic goals to align with your vision, develop an attainable plan of action, and identify who is responsible for each part of the plan.
Planning to Plan: How to start holding consistent, productive farm meetings with a purpose
Taking time to plan with trusted advisors—whether you’re farming on your own or with farming partners—is a key to success. However, building that meeting habit takes time and some effort.
Why Defining Strategic Issues Is Your Farm’s Competitive Edge
Table of Contents Introduction In the ever-changing landscape of agriculture, staying competitive requires more than just identifying challenges; it includes identifying opportunities as well. Both demand a deeper dive. Explore the power of defining strategic issues on your family farm. Taking this step can help you find creative solutions that lie beneath the surface, that […]
Writing a Farm Business Destination Statement
If you are considering a change to your farm business, it can feel like you are starting a new journey. You have cows to milk, fields to prepare, seeds to plant, and a future to plan. But, just like a road trip needs a map, your farm needs a plan, too. That’s where a destination […]
Building a brand
In this video, Andy Larson, farm financial consultant with the Food Finance Institute and also the Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers, talks about financing options for a rural food or farm business. We’re going to spend most of our time talking about traditional banks and traditional lending, but also bring up a number of options that are more non-traditional, if you don’t want to use a bank or you can’t.
