Idaho case snapshots using mediation provided in the farm bill include farm transition, farmer-neighbor disputes, credit counseling, asset division in divorce, and many other cases. Maybe it fits yours.

Transition talks can be dreadful and pit parties against each other in an effort to find a long-term plan for the farm, but with the right approach, these talks can have an entirely different successful outcome.

For these three Pennsylvania dairy producers, their stories are each very different but have one commonality: working full-time on their family’s dairy operation wasn’t always their dream.

As mom to a young successor and wife to a very ambitious, determined, successful seed grower who is wired to get tasks done, I’m seeing firsthand how it can be an interesting journey to graciously let go of control and mentor the next manager of your farm business.

Transitioning the farm to the next generation is a natural process. Yet, it can be challenging to have conversations about what happens next – especially if the current owners and the next generation aren't on the same page.

Succession planning is about owning your future and controlling your farm’s destiny. In a recent panel discussion at the “Own Your Future Forum” hosted by the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania (PDMP) and Center for Dairy Excellence, five panelists from all sectors of the industry had a candid conversation about taking control of the future.

Many families make the mistake of jumping into succession planning without a plan. They meet with their professionals, have conversations with family and may even get so far as to begin transitioning ownership of assets, but somewhere along the way, momentum gets lost and the plan stalls.