May 4, 2017
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transferring your farm to the next generation
Family & Consumer Sciences
At the farmers market: strawberries
4-H Youth Development
Gardening grows great young people
Transferring your farm to the next generation
Sources: Jennifer Hunter, associate extension professor for family finance and resource management
The average age of farm operators in Kentucky is increasing, and over the next several years, many farm families will consider transitioning their farm to the next generation. The decision of when and how to begin the farm transition process can be difficult; often, farm families avoid the issue because it can be a difficult topic to discuss.
It is important to realize that at some point every farm business will experience a transfer of ownership, either with or without owner participation. The farm business can transfer in one of two ways: either as a viable farm business or as a set of assets. Typically, the goal of many families is to successfully transfer a viable farm business. But only about 30 percent of family farm businesses successfully transfer to the second generation, with less than 10 percent successfully transferring to the third generation. The majority of failures occur following the owners death due to limited foresight, planning and capital. However, with proper planning and family communication your farm business is less likely to become a failed statistic.
Creating a will or an estate plan is a step in providing a way to distribute assets. However, a comprehensive farm transition plan takes a more in-depth look at the farm business. For many with a family farm, the primary goal of a comprehensive plan is to facilitate the transfer of ownership and management of the farming operation. However, transition planning is also a tool to reduce estate taxes, help secure the financial future of both the new and retiring generations, develop management skills, and to establish goals for your farm, such as keeping your land in agriculture. Ultimately, a sound farm transition plan can provide peace of mind about the future plans for your operation.
Good family communication is one of the key factors to a successful transfer. Farm family transitions are typically smoother if heirs can provide input and when family members have a shared vision. You may find it difficult to treat all heirs equally during the transition; however, it is possible to treat all heirs fairly. Good communication can help both on-farm and off-farm heirs understand the reasoning behind decisions. Each family is unique, and it’s important to be conscious of the relationships between heirs and spouses, as well as the family business needs.
To ensure your goals for the family farm reflect the vision of other family members, the first step is to schedule a family meeting and start an open dialogue about the process. A good family meeting typically takes place at a neutral location, not at the kitchen table or in the barn. Everyone needs to feel comfortable enough to share their opinions. Additionally, do not try to tack a family meeting onto another family event such as a holiday dinner. Schedule it just as you would other important business meetings.
During the first family meeting, begin a conversation about transitioning the family farm. Talking points to start the conversation include discussing how each heir perceives their role on the farm. Talk with them about what role they would like to play during the transfer process and ask them about their goals for the future of the operation. Find out if your goals are similar to their future goals.
Once you begin the dialogue, you can address more detailed issues and key questions. You may find it helpful to work with a transition team to develop and implement the plan. Team members may include a facilitator, accountant, attorney and an extension educator. Each member of the team can provide expertise in establishing a transition plan that will work for your family.
For more information, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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At the farmers market: strawberries
Source: Heather Norman-Burgdolf, assistant extension professor
The (COUNTY NAME) Farmers Market is in full swing. Many of our local vendors have or will soon have strawberries available.
A perennial farmers market favorite, growers harvest Kentucky strawberries during May and June. They are a very refreshing snack and they are full of vitamins. Just one cup provides a great source of vitamin C, which according to the American Cancer Society, could help lower your risk of cancer and gastrointestinal tract problems. They are also a good source of vitamin A, iron, fiber and folic acid. Folic acid is a particularly important for pregnant women and those trying to become pregnant, because it helps prevent certain birth defects. As you will see in the Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipe below, it is a perfect low-calorie snack for an on-the-go treat, as one cup only contains 55 calories.
When shopping for strawberries at the market, look for bright red berries. The berries should have a natural shine and be plump, as strawberries will not ripen further after picking. Use as soon as possible after purchasing for optimal flavor and the highest nutritional value. Store in the refrigerator for one to three days in any packaging. Wash strawberries right before you eat them. When washing, make sure that you do not remove the caps. These caps ensure that water does not soak into the berry and dilute its flavor and texture. To dry, simply place them on a paper towel and enjoy with any dish.
Contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office for more information on ways to prepare in-season produce or about our local farmers market offerings. For more Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipes, visit http://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/piukp-recipes or contact the extension office for recipe cards.
Spring Harvest Salad
Yield: 8, 1 cup servings
Ingredients:
5 cups of torn spring leaf lettuce
2 ½ cups of spinach leaves
1 1/15 cups of sliced strawberries
1 cup of fresh blueberries
½ cup of thinly sliced green onions
Dressing:
4 teaspoons lemon juice
2 ½ tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons of Kentucky honey
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ cup of feta cheese crumbles
½ cup of unsalted sliced almonds
Directions:
Combine leaf lettuce and spinach leaves with sliced strawberries, blueberries and green onions in a large salad bowl. Mix together the lemon juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey and salt. Pour the dressing over the lettuce mixture and toss to coat the lettuce. Lastly sprinkle feta cheese and sliced almonds on top and serve.
Nutritional Analysis:
130 calories, 9 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 240 mg sodium, 12 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 3 g protein.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
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Gardening grows great young people
Source: Ashley Osborne, 4-H youth development specialist
It’s gardening season in the Bluegrass state. Before you get your hands dirty preparing the garden beds, make sure you involve your children.
Gardening has many benefits for children beyond fresh fruits and vegetables. Research has shown that youth gardening projects increase young people’s self-esteem, teach them responsibility, improve relationships with family members and increase parents’ involvement in their child’s school.
Research conducted by several land-grant institutions found similar outcomes among young participants in Cooperative Extension’s Junior Master Gardener Program. Their findings include an increased youth interest in science and in overall learning, higher test scores in science, a greater interest in eating more fruits and vegetables and an increase desire to give back to their community through other projects outside of the classroom.
Even if you aren’t a gardener, you can get your young person involved in gardening through 4-H. In (COUNTY NAME), 4-H offers the following gardening programs (AGENTS: LIST YOUR PROGRAMS HERE.)
For more information on youth gardening projects, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
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