Succeeding in succession

Staffordshire farmer and Cereals Development Programme (CDP) chair Rob Atkin reports on the group’s latest session, where the topic was making a success of succession

of the farm and your time prior to any handover of responsibility, so all parties look beyond the capital value and consider the upkeep and earning capacity. Your hard work to develop the business needs to be rewarded fairly.

WILLS It’s important that all parties have a will, even just a simple one outlining your wishes. It makes life easier for the next generation. It also sets a record of what is going to happen to the business, and prevents control from falling under wider family members who are not involved with the business.

A FEW OTHER USEFUL TIPS… Move the farm office away from the house. Monthly family/partner meetings are a must. There shouldn’t be any expectation on children that they have to farm, and never be afraid of asking questions about what will happen. Sort out the previous generation before the present one.

The main take-home message for me was clear; don’t shy away from the hard questions and remember to enjoy every day.

On behalf of the CDP and the NFU Next Generation Forum I would like to thank Sian and Annabel for giving up their time to speak to us.

Not everyone likes to talk about farm succession, but that’s just what the NFU’s CDP programme, alongside the Next Generation Forum, did at a joint event with the help of speakers Sian Bushell and Annabel Hamilton.

Many of you will have come across Sian already, who has built a successful career providing succession support to farming families. Annabel, meanwhile, has recently returned home to work alongside her father on the family farm after spending time away as a farm manager in Lincolnshire.

For those who are just starting to think about what can be a difficult topic, here are some of the take-home messages:

TALK ABOUT IT TODAY It may seem a morbid conversation, but it’s one you need to have. What happens if something goes wrong tomorrow? Do you know what the plans for the farm are? Who will inherit? How should more gradual change be managed? Establishing this now prevents unnecessary arguments in the future.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS There often needs to be distance between families. Everybody needs their own space. Farming is hard, and long hours can mean you need your own ‘down time’ away from other working members of the family. This is a huge benefit for those working relationships and everyone’s mental health and something to think about as responsibilities in a farm business change over time

COMMUNICATION This is usually the biggest problem within succession. Every family member needs to know what’s happening. Annabel and her dad have weekly meeting to discusses dayto-day issues on the farm and then quarterly family meetings. You can’t run any business without talking to all the parties involved.

RESPONSIBILITY Clarify who has what responsibilities now. If you’re taking over responsibilities from others, set dates and timelines as to when these changes will happen and, most importantly, stick to them.

SIBLINGS Have the conversation with your siblings; if they don’t want to farm then is there a way for you to buy their share?

If not, can you establish the true value

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME...

The NFU/Openfield Cereals Development Programme provides a unique seed-to-shelf insight into the sector and a better understanding of what happens beyond the farm gate.

The biennial scheme runs from October to March and is aimed at the next generation, with participants usually between 25 and 35 years old.