FOR RETIRING FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Ready to step back from the farm? Where to start
By Sam Marwood
You don't need it all worked out to make a start. You need a rough idea of when, and one conversation.
Ageing on Farm's planning questions include a handful about timing and next steps. It's a free guide for farmers working out what comes after the heavy work, and these few questions matter more than they look.
How long do you want to keep going?
Start with your own timeline.
- How long would you like to keep an active hand in the farm?
- Are there milestones you want to reach before you step back?
There's no right answer. But knowing yours tells you how much time you have to set up what comes next, and how quickly a handover needs to happen.
What could force your hand?
Some timelines get set for you.
- Are there things outside your control that could bring yours forward? Health issues, market conditions, family events?
Name them now, while you can still plan around them.
Starting the family conversation
- If you haven't talked to your family about the farm's future yet, what's stopping you?
- What's stopping you from starting that conversation this week?
The guide's wording is deliberate. Not one day. This week.
Give the decision a date
- What's your timeline for making a decision?
Deciding has a timeline of its own, separate from the handover. The handover might run for years. The decision about which way to go shouldn't drift for years as well.
The full guide, Ageing on Farm, is free at cultivatefarms.com/resources.
You can build your own plan at cultivatefarms.com/plan.