Farm family coach Elaine Froese says identifying values is a crucial exercise for young farmers and she encourages them to think about how to explain these to the older generation.

Top transition tips for young farmers

How the next generation can help farm transition be successful

Transitioning management and ownership of a farm business from one generation to the next can present many challenges. While there are numerous resources to support farm founders in assessing their […] Read more


Don’t assume that family members understand your wishes.

Introspective estate planning for your farm

Focus on the people involved in farm succession, not just assets

Estate planning means knowing where financial and material assets will go after you die, but according to veteran financial strategist Chris Delaney, forgetting to prepare people to receive those assets […] Read more



Brent VanParys from BDO (left), Margaret Hudson of Burnbrae Farms, and George Sinker, a lawyer specializing in agribusiness and family enterprise, detail their expertise and experience with transition planning during a panel session at CAFA’s Farm Transition Update in London.

The importance of meetings

Taking the step of getting together is a critical first move in happy succession

The need for better communication and holding proper meetings with advisers and family members were stressed as key factors to successful farm ownership transfers, at a recent farm transition meeting. […] Read more

A professor emeritus says an effective management strategy is to put yourself in the situation of ‘what if’ and begin addressing difficult questions and situations that might arise from the uncertainties of farming.

Planning for “What if”

Succession planning questions to ask and steps to take to start the conversation

Many farms think an unexpected change will never happen in their family. The premise is: “our family operation has nothing to worry about.” Few family operations survive unexpected changes to […] Read more



Farm acquisitions can be more challenging tax-wise than succession plans.

Accessing Ontario’s small business tax rate

Both passive and active income can change your tax rate, which can be a surprise for some farms

Farms are typically small businesses entitled to the small business tax rate each year. But farm finance experts say even relatively small farms can lose access to small business tax […] Read more