May 2024 - 29

BUSINESS
* How does an off-farm relative enter the
operation? Are there prerequisites like a set
number of years of educational study (university
or trade school), or a requirement to be employed
for a specific number of years elsewhere to gain
experience and perspective?
* Will there be a probationary period?
* Will the new employee rotate among different
areas of the operation (field, shop, office and
perhaps the packing shed or the transportation
arm) to understand the " big picture? "
* What are the expectations for working hours,
compensation, vacations and benefits?
* What ongoing professional development will be
required? What is the involvement with state and
national crop associations?
* What steps are required to advance to a
management position?
* What is required to become an equity owner?
For example, some operations require a pre- or
post-nuptial agreement to be in place to prevent
ownership flowing outside the family. Others
require the family member to successfully farm
a portion of the operation before becoming a coowner
of the entire operation.
When conflict arises over employment, management
or ownership, the written policies can reassure the family
member and spouse that this is the policy agreed to by
the entire family, and that decisions are not personal.
Regularly scheduled meetings
Many farmers can be described as " rugged individuals. "
Sometimes that means they don't communicate as well as
they should. We frequently have younger members of the
family tell us, " We have no idea what Dad's plans may be! "
Sadly, this lack of communication can dampen the next
generation's enthusiasm and allow misconceptions and
conflict to fester.
Regularly scheduled, mandatory meetings are a great
tool to nip these issues in the bud. Best practices to
improve your succession plans include:
Weekly operational meetings
These provide an update on what is happening across
the operation, the tasks and priorities that need to
be addressed this week, and who is responsible for
completing them. Life gets in the way of a good plan every
day, so resources need to be allocated to the items that
did not get completed the prior week. They should also
address how farm labor will be allocated, so different
managers know the resources they will have available.
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FRUITGROWERSNEWS.COM | 29
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May 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2024
