In a recent AgWeb posting, Polly Dobbs provided her advice for young farmers trying to find a foothold in agriculture. Her four main points were to:
 

1. Find a Mentor—Look for an established farm operator who may not have a successor, work with them, and make yourself indispensable to them. Remember that there are many farmers approaching retirement looking for just this type of arrangement, but who don’t know where to find the right person. This will take years of work, so be patient and show you are worthy of this arrangement.
 

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask—It’s okay to ask about what happens to the family farm when the parents pass away. You need to know if others will inherit part of the assets and you will have to buy them out, as well as anything else that will have to be addressed. Be tactful and realize this may take a series of conversations. 
 

3. Be Worthy of Consideration—Get to know your neighbors and work closely with your current landlords, making sure you have provided accurate and timely reports of what you have done with their land. Keep the farmstead and roadways mowed. Plow out snow in the winter. As the relationship continues to grow, begin to develop a long-term written agreement that helps ensure you will continue to farm the land after they are gone.
 

4. Make Smart Investments—Don’t build facilities on land you don’t own. Get that land split off from the owner’s property and clearly registered in your name.

 

These are great suggestions for anyone entering into a relationship with a potential business partner, as well as younger people wanting to get a start in any business.

 

Don Tyler

ASAC Board Member