Before You Buy: A Farm Tech Investment Planning Guide

Automation is no longer a distant vision. Technology is being used to fill labor gaps, trim costs, increase efficiency, and boost precision. Success, though, still begins with a solid plan.

Balancing Technology and People: The Evolving Role of Farm Workers in Automation

The progression toward automation is partly based on a shortage of workers, but it is part of a natural progression. Switching from work that is heavily dependent on people—whether it’s you, family members or hired employees—can be complicated.

Inherit It or Marry It… or Co-own a Farm?

Young farmers are often familiar with the old adage: if they want to own a farm, they must inherit it or marry it. However, farm succession planners know there’s a third, perhaps equally challenging, strategy: co-ownership.

Values, Vision, and Intentions for Farm Succession

To create a sustainable succession plan, the family and farm members can use their values, intentions, and vision as a basis for decision-making and informing the transactional aspects of the plan.

Harnessing the Power of Ag Tech: What Farms Need to Know

This is the first article in a series on key considerations for technology and automation investment in agriculture.

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.

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

Setting Business Strategy Using a SWOT Analysis Introduction Why Do We Care About Strategies? The SWOT Analysis Who Should Be Involved? The 3-Step Process Strategy Analysis Examples Turning Strategies into Goals Putting It All Together SWOT Analysis Worksheet Reflection Question Introduction Strategic thinking is the intuitive, visual, and creative process you use to make decisions […]

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.