Two horses, working in tandem, are stronger than one — and make a great metaphor for spouses in business together, proceeding forward in alignment.

How to have the conversation about prenups

Whatever the status of your relationship, the farm you share needs clarity

“So, you want to protect your farm in case of a divorce, understandably so! Can you do that with a prenup? Yes! If it’s valid and enforceable, and you include the right provisions, your farm can stay in your possession, even in the worst-case scenario of a divorce. Prenups can also supplement your estate planning […] Read more

Many future farmers are headed toward a “perfect storm” that may make difficult-but- necessary conversations both more difficult and more necessary.

Tips to navigate transition storms

The cash flow needed to acquire land can fall outside of long-term profitability

Last month, in the U.S., we heard Steven Bohr of Next Generation Ag Advocates encourage young farmers with tools for transition. The average price per acre in Iowa, as of last Nov. 1, is estimated at US$11,835, and 34 per cent of the land has owners over 75 years of age. Sixty per cent of […] Read more


Regardless of the size of a farm operation, advancing one’s leadership skills can pay dividends.

Is my kid a leader?

Mediocre leadership can strain family and employee relationships — and one's own health

It’s actually two questions. It isn’t just how much leadership potential have my kids got? It’s also, how much better will they get if I provide the right training and support? And the reason parents need to ask both questions is because science is learning an immense amount about what leadership potential looks like. “Leadership […] Read more

The younger generation on the farm needs to know whether there is ever going to be an opportunity for them to assume leadership of the operation.

Do the kids really want to take the lead on the farm?

The next generation, and the parents, both have to be clear on how they can prove it

An intergenerational farm transition is never easy. There are tough conversations, there are disagreements, and, always, there is compromise. The kids who want to take over the farm worry about when, if ever, that’s going to happen. They want to know how they are going to get there and what their parents are going to […] Read more


A farm’s founders and successors alike need clarity of expectations.

Write the first draft now for your next chapter

You no longer have the luxury of avoiding hard conversations

Imagine how wonderful life would be on your farm if you did not have to guess what other folks on your farm team really want for their lives, and for the farm business? I had the great joy of speaking to 540 young Iowa farmers last month. Many of them are stuck in getting equity […] Read more

One marker in a farmer’s life should be to set up a succession plan that keeps family bonds intact.

Finding a ‘bridge’ over transition waters

A will or partnership agreement is important, but is not a farm succession plan

Maggie Van Camp understands the challenges as well as the tremendous value of farm succession planning. She’s been on that road a couple of times in her life as a seventh-generation Ontario farmer, as well as a communicator and agricultural consultant. The first time was after the sudden death of her husband in a farming […] Read more


Under the legislation, farmers can now sell farm shares to their children, creating a shareholder loan.

How to reduce the tax load on a farm succession

A Manitoba MP's bill is considered a game-changer for farm transition — if you know how to use it

Glacier FarmMedia — Taking advantage of the revamped federal Bill C-208 can provide you with some significant tax savings when drafting family succession plans for your farm. C-208 was initially introduced as a private member’s bill by Manitoba MP Larry Maguire in 2021. The bill sought to amend the federal Income Tax Act to exclude […] Read more

It’s possible that lingering emotions from past stress may spawn fear of failure for the farm’s future finances.

Create more financial transparency with your farm team

Farm partners need to be able to be frank about their financial realities

Where is “You don’t talk about money!” written in the farm family rule book? Recently on a coaching call, a farm family admitted a huge “undiscussabull” within the family had caused great stress to their over-40-year-old son. This non-farming son did not have any clue about the profitability of the farm, what the parents needed […] Read more


Rob and Sarah need a way to divide the farm that creates the necessary cash flow for a son moving back to the farm and maintains fairness for him and his brother.

Six quarters and two sons

The problem of fairness in an estate plan

Rob, who is 65, and Sarah, who is 61, farm six quarters of grain and pasture in northwestern Manitoba. They have two sons, Michael and Steven, each in his 30s and married. However, Steven, who has a town job, has decided he would like to try his hand at farming. The issue in devising a […] Read more

dad peeling potatoes while son watches

Potential heir’s U.S. residency complicates farm estate planning

Where a situation is subject to change, have a clearly defined will subject to regular review

A single father — let’s call him Dave — is in his mid-60s. He lives in south-central Manitoba. Dave inherited several quarters of choice potato land from his parents upon their passing. Over the years he has sold of a couple of quarters but still has two quarters remaining. Dave has three kids, and he […] Read more