Three Common Pitfalls Of Succession Planning

Succession experts and provincial and federal governments alike have stressed about a looming crisis where billions of farm assets are about to change hands. The need for the older and, in most cases, the current generation to seek and obtain assistance in transferring their assets to the next generation is still there. From 30,000 feet […] Read more

Joint Ventures — A Business Structure To Consider

Joint ventures are pretty common in some sectors, like oil and gas exploration, but they have never been used much in farming. A joint venture is an agreement or business structure where two or more individuals or business entities (partnerships or companies) agree to contribute assets, services and/or capital to a common commercial enterprise. In […] Read more


Texas In The Lexus Or Dodge In The Lodge, Part 5

In the first four parts of this multi-part series, we stressed the importance of understanding and committing to very clear goals prior to entering into retirement planning. Part two stressed the importance of calculating your financial needs for retirement and your options to generate cash by earning cash with assets or generating cash through the […] Read more

I’d Just Like To Know…

Early last month in Peace River country I encouraged the farmers to drop judgmental comments and use the words… “I was just curious… could you explain to me why you…” Curiosity is an effective tool for conflict resolution because you avoid hitting conflict trigger buttons when you stop using judgmental or defensive language. One of […] Read more


Texas In The Lexus Or The Lodge With The Dodge, Part 4

In the first three parts of this multi-part series, we stressed the importance of understanding and committing to very clear goals prior to entering into retirement planning. Part two stressed the importance of calculating your financial needs for retirement and your options to generate cash flow. Part three shed light on the tax considerations and […] Read more

How A Young Farm Family Can Succeed

Farms are unique entities in that they combine a rural lifestyle and a business enterprise at the same location and at the same time. That has its advantages and disadvantages. Family members are always close to the business but the business and all its challenges is always right there also. Both of those parts (the […] Read more


A Few Final Comments On Tags

I wouldn’t say the phone has been ringing off the wall, but I have had a few more producers call or email with concerns about the reliability of RFID ear tags. And I can’t devote this space to every last person who may have experienced a problem with lost tags, but I thought I would […] Read more

Avoid The Mistakes Farmers Typically Make

I smile knowingly as I read the farmer’s checklist; he wants to “avoid the mistakes farmers typically make” in succession planning. I don’t pretend to have the exhaustive list, but in eight years of coaching I have seen many scenarios that you don’t want to repeat. What mistakes? Poor self-care. Your body is not a […] Read more


Building A Roadmap To Farm Succession

Many farmers we talk to want to get started creating a succession plan, but nearly all just don’t know where to start. Often emotions and feelings complicate an already complex task. When working with clients we generally follow a four step approach. We recently met with Neber Leben DeFarm and his son Angus Anxious DeFarm. […] Read more

Pacing Through The Overwhelm

Some of you who took the last column to heart may have attacked your farm offices to tidy them up, get organized, and now have a beautiful space to work in. January is typically the month when we are encouraged to pick new goals, write them down and be transformed with new habits. For 2011 […] Read more