Transition Continued from Page 3
separate ways,” she said. “It would not only be the end of the farm but also a distancing of the relationship. That was a surprise to me, but it’s very clear how important it is and continues to be.” Attorney Mary Campbell, a CALAMP mediator, said farming is not just a busi- ness; it is a family conversation. “These are tough talks to have, but they are necessary,” she said. “Every family has a challenge. That is the na- ture of families. Mediation is the coolest thing that nobody knows about. We are there to support everyone’s voice and can help you have the family conversa- tions needed.” CALAMP also assists with agricul- tural debt issues, leases or other fi- nancial challenges that can feed into concern around succession planning, Campbell said. At Good Humus, as they produce spring crops such as strawberries, apri- cots, beets and leeks, members of the Main family continue efforts to plan for the future. “Everyone in our community will ben- efit from a smoother transition,” Alison Main said, “and they won’t have to wait five years for me to figure out how to turn the tractor on.” (Lisa McEwen is a reporter in Exeter. She may be contacted at mcewenlisamarie@gmail.com.)
“It’s easy to say, ‘I want my kids to be in farming,’” Covington said. “But, in reality, the steep cost of entry will keep them out. It will be difficult without the support of their parents.” A common error in succession plan- ning is not realizing that retirement is closing in quickly. Many can also wrong- ly assume that a will is all that is needed, or that all assets should be distributed evenly among heirs, or that the entire process can be done by the farmer, Covington said. Not seeking professional assistance is a huge mistake, he said. Farm families may need a financial or estate planner, a moderator to help with family discus- sions, a banker to assist with financial resources, an accountant with income records and business projections, and a tax attorney. “Succession planning is not once-and- done,” Covington said. “Start early and keep it regularly planned.” The lengthy process of planning for the future can be overwhelming amid daily tasks of farming. Alison Main said getting advice through the FarmLink farm succession program helped ease the anxiety. “We were asked to outline our roles, and we couldn’t even do it. We just didn’t have the time,” she said. “With
Jeff Main, above, checks on crops at the Good Humus organic farm. At right, siblings Claire and Alison Main, from left, are photographed with the farm matriarch, Annie Main.
to the farm, it became apparent that they had different visions for its future. A facilitator helped guide family mem- bers through necessary, sometimes difficult conversations. California FarmLink is partnering with the California Agricultural Mediation Program, which provides free mediation and facilitation services for farm families such as the Mains. Annie Main, who feared potential ten- sions among her children, said the pro- cess has been “a game changer.” “As parents, we are the glue, and once we remove ourselves, my desire is that my three children will be able to com- municate and work together and not go
this format, we meet once a month for eight hours, no distractions. We had to sit there and start dealing with it. It’s a struggle to do in the midst of ev- erything else, but we do feel like we’re moving, we’re doing. As hard as it is, it will pay off and save us a huge amount of trouble later.” Annie and Jeff Main started the process several years ago by placing the Good Humus farm in an agricultural easement as development crept in. At the time, they did not know if their children were inter- ested in farming. But the easement made owning the farm a financial possibility for the next generation. As their children decided to return
The Produce Safety Rule is Here; ARE YOU READY?
Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS), an a liated company of the California Farm Bureau (CAFB), has partnered with the Safe Food Alliance through a California Department of Food and Agriculture grant contract, as their designated training provider for Central and Southern California, to conduct the required Produce Safety training for growers. Presented in a free two-day remote delivery webinar format! What sets Safe Food Alliance, FELS, and Farm Bureau apart is their total of over 100 years of experience and our dedication to providing technical guidance and leadership to the California agriculture community. Most farms are required to have at least one designated supervisor who has been trained in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule. Upon completion of the course, attendees will receive an o cial certi cate from the Association of Food & Drug O cials.
It’s time to apply Afrikelp in green and red varieties of TABLE GRAPES
% of fully colored berries at first harvest
100%
96,8%
75%
81,0%
68,5%
50%
47,5%
25%
0%
Control Flame
Afrikelp Flame
Control Alison
Afrikelp Alison
Source: Dr. Ashraf El-kereamy, University of California Riverside
Afrikelp can be applied since 4-6 mm berry size until veraison
Source: Dr. Ashraf El-kereamy, University of California Riverside
The Food Safety Training Partnership is offering these training courses throughout California. You can find more information and register at foodsafetytrainingpartnership.com, or call 916-561-5672. Supported by California Department of Food and Agriculture
Afrikelp Control Afrikelp is standardized ensuring consistent results
June 1, 2022 Ag Alert 9
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