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Getting farmers and ranchers to plan

A recent article in Investment News repeats what planners know and hear all the time:  farmers and ranchers are notoriously difficult to focus on planning for the time when they are no longer farming or ranching.  The primary problem is that, for numerous reasons, these “do it all yourselfers” refuse to focus on the reality that they won’t be able to continue farming or ranching forever.  Once we understand the obstacles that cause these great Americans to delay or avoid planning, we are on the way to helping them.  However, the article points out that for those who do not properly plan, the result is devastating, ensuring that the government splits their ranch or farm and that their children do not have the means or ability to carry on the family farming or ranching business.  Experience teaches us that often the risk or fear of the worst nightmare can prompt these persons to begin thinking seriously about putting a plan in place.