FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, & GOAL PLANNING

Discussing the farm's future with your family is an essential part of the transfer process. This involves expressing personal and family goals, understanding differences, and finding ways to deal with conflict. Effective communication may require an outside facilitator. The resources in this section focus on goal setting and on strategies for maintaining open lines of communication.

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Farm Transfers in Wisconsin: A Guide for Farmers

A comprehensive, friendly guide for farmers everywhere; includes farm business arrangements as well as family, financial, and legal considerations

Jeanne M. Meier and Gwen Garvey
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
2003, 90 pages

http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/agriculture/farm-center/transfers/pdf/transfer_guide.pdf

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Farmland Transfer & Protection in New England

A guide for entering and exiting farmers; includes worksheets; not limited to New England farm operators

Kathryn Z. Ruhf
The New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI)
1999, 124 pages

Order online
$12 includes s/h
http://www.farmlandinfo.org/farmland_preservation_literature/index.cfm?function=article_view&articleID=29905

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Farm Succession Risk Management Checklist

A great online checklist with instant assessment and feedback

Dr. Patricia Frishkoff
Oregon State University
2005

http://riskcheck.familybusinessonline.org/

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Who Will Get Grandpa’s Farm: Communicating about Farm Transfer

A PowerPoint presentation about farm-family retirement planning and farm transfer

Sharon DeVaney, Ph.D.
Purdue University
2001

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/farmtransfer/

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Two Generation Farming -- Step 3: Making it Work

All about developing good family relations, improving communications and resolving conflicts

Don Hofstrand
Iowa State University Extension
1998, 16 pages

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1474C.pdf 

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