Working in a farm successor as part of a retirement plan

To the Editor,

Are you one of the many farmers without an identified farm successor? Purdue University says that’s around 75 percent, and about half expect nonfamily members to take over. A gradual shift of responsibilities and ownership, plus an extended mentoring period, can help ensure the continued success of the farm business.

After checking out a candidate’s experience and references, a short trial period with paid labor can be a good step. This probationary period can help both of you assess how well you work together, how your daily priorities match up, and how you deal with setbacks.

A phased transition plan can follow, based on the goals and capabilities of you and your successor. Responsibilities for farm decisions and management can be shifted gradually or by specific enterprises.

A written transition plan can ensure that timing and responsibilities are clear. A five-year plan for major progress will tell you if it’s working and will reassure the new farmer that her time investment in your business is on track.

You have gained skills and have built a business to withstand financial, weather, and market risks. A new farmer will benefit from your knowledge of your land and from your experience in the business. Remaining a minority partner or a mentor gives access to your valuable advice. 

But your successor will be operating in a world with a market and regulatory climate that differs from when you farmed. You have to be prepared to accept that decisions will be made that would not match yours.

You’ll need to eventually accept that you’ve provided as much help as you can and that the business has moved beyond your reach. It will succeed or fail on its owner’s strengths, just as it did when you started out.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

Wyatt Fraas, associate director of farm and community, Center for Rural Affairs

And the beat 

goes on…

To the Editor,

Just when there is a glimmer of light in his dark period in history, more nonsense raises its head. It’s hard to recognize the wondrous democracy we’ve enjoyed for over two centuries as there is no longer any significant adherence to the constitution and framework of laws and processes that have kept the promise of “WE THE PEOPLE” in place.

Perhaps the last straw of responsible governing was starting another unnecessary war with Iran then bragging about the destruction, deaths, and victory over an admitted adversarial regime in Iran but it was waged illegally since war can only be declared with congressional approval. There was none. It was done with no clear objectives, no definition of how it could end, no way out of this quagmire except admitting defeat and paying the bills. All this to satisfy the chest pounding Trump Team led by Defense Secretary’s showcase of our military might. Like killing ants with a blowtorch.

But the ants are winning. Their country still stands, though weakened initially but now gaining strength as our adversaries around the world are offering support to the fallen state to strengthen their defenses. Worse yet, Trump’s disparaging our NATO allies because they didn’t jump in to help an offensive war. We were never attacked nor threatened.  NATO is a defensive, not an attack alliance, caused our leadership to insult them and threaten to withdraw support. No one in government knows how this will end except maybe the people who are now waking up to the stupidity and cruelty of our leaders. Elections have consequences.

On the election side, it is incomprehensible that a political party is so weak in actual governing strategies they turn to election tricks like redistricting in lieu of putting legislative plans in front of the voting public to achieve their objectives. Adjectives like spineless, brainless, cowardly, incompetent … come to mind but there is more. It’s all about the MONEY. Since Citizens United allows huge donations from Corporate America responsible legislation for the common good has vanished.

This year’s election will not be fun to watch if there is one. We have approved the formation of a private militia (ICE+) under direct control of a Trump cabinet stooge with no guardrails in place to prevent him from putting out Executive Orders to disrupt the election process. Desperation is setting in with falling support in polls. Redistricting to separate Black from White districts is advancing in many states but upheld primarily in Republican states.

Yet, when the morning dawns in this beautiful Lake Country and we step outside, the glimmer becomes a glow as we watch young family’s energy and hope, too busy to keep up with the world events, it brings us 90-year-olds back to the depression, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq/Afghanistan, now Iran rebuilding our nation to make it become the beacon of hope across the world. The best part is we’ve shared our progress with the rest of the world.

We can do it again starting with this election. Vote for a return to life before Trump. Please.

Lee Purrier,

Park Rapids, Minn.