Document Actions

PLANNING THE FUTURE OF YOUR FARM Resource Library

The Planning the Future of Your Farm Education Programs

Since 2004, NCFTN has worked to build education partnerships with the goal of informing landowners and farmers on the issues related to passing farm wealth and businesses to the next generation. This education campaign has evolved into a series of education programs designed to set participants immediately to the hard and rewarding work of preserving family wealth and "keeping farms in the family." Planning the Future of Your Farm workshops follow a general format of information and hands-on exercises that help participants begin the process of developing a plan for keeping the farm. Participants collect information about themselves, their family, the value and potential of their farms and estates, they set goals and objectives to achieve their vision of the future, they build a framework for accessing available public resources to evaluate their business and conservation options, all the way to preparing to meeting with professional advisors that will help them execute key decisions.

NCFTN and its collaborators are available to tailor programs for different producer and landowner audiences, from general day-long workshops to help landowners "begin" or restart the planning process to "executive level" farm business succession workshops. For a schedule of Planning the Future of Your Farm educational events, check out the NCFTN Calendar of Events.

The Planning the Future of Your Farm Workbook

In Fall of 2006, in an attempt to assist landowners, farmers, and their families develop a plan for keeping the farm, NCFTN published Planning the Future of Your Farm: A Workbook on Farm Transfer Decisions. This 48 page workbook is a collection of narrative materials and worksheets designed to support education workshops and presentations to farmers, landowners and their families across North Carolina. It is designed as a "decision-support" tool whereby users can gather assess their values and goals, their farm resources, and estate information for working with professional advisors. While a second edition is in development, the 2006 version (currently out of print) can be downloaded here. The workbook can be accompanied by an introductory presentation.

About the Resource Library

This online library was created to assist farmers, rural landowners, their families, and their professional advisers as they work through creating transition, succession and estate plans. Resources ranging from articles to online movies can be found in the resource folders listed below. Resources are arranged by topical area, so click on a topic that interests you and begin developing your knowledge of transition planning!

We are continually adding new resources to the library, so check back for updates. In addition, if you are aware of valuable resources that are not presently posted, please contact us at passthefarm@gmail.com.

Resources by Topic

DEVELOPING YOUR VISION FOR THE FARM

Farm Family Communication

EVALUATING YOUR FARM RESOURCES

Land Conservation Tools

BUSINESS SUCCESSION and TRANSFER TOOLS

EXIT PLANNING