Nichols Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 106 W. River Road, Nichols, NY 13812
Nichols Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 106 W. River Rd., Nichols, NY 13812
The 24th Annual NODPA Field Days is fast approaching and we hope everyone will find the time to attend for both days because we have an excellent and very relevant educational program and two farm tours. This year, the NODPA Field Days focuses on demystifying the succession planning process for organic dairy farms. Register here! While there are any number of different webinars, workshops and presentation on farm transfer, none approach the challenge from an organic dairy perspective. A few examples raised by producers are:
Should the farm stay organically certified, a priority for the current owners but maybe not for the next generation?
Organic dairy requires more pasture for grazing as opposed to conventional dairy, and the alternative return on assets, in keeping land in organic dairy, is a lot less than selling some for development or more intensively managed crops that yield more return per acre.
The lack of any federal safety net, no transparency in pricing, and the lack of security in individual contracts, plus the loss of organic integrity in the marketplace, may not provide the necessary security required by lenders and family members.
Lifestyle may also be an important concern as the next generation may not want a life tied to the farm with possibly limited financial return and room for expansion.
None of these problems are insurmountable and there are many ways to come to agreement to meet different expectations. Sometimes assumptions made by either party may be incorrect, BUT the sooner a process can be started to address these and other issues, the more likely there will be good decisions made in anticipation of change rather than as a reaction to it.
At the NODPA Field Days, we will bring together all of the topics, experts, and experiences that will help guide you through a complex process. We will hear from farmers who have successfully and not so successfully, been through the process, from farmers in the midst of it; from those farmers who have moved on and those who are getting started. Regardless where a person or family is in the farm transfer process, everyone admits that it’s stressful and stirs up a lot of emotion and feelings. Come to hear how everyone has dealt with it, and share your own experiences, concerns and questions.
According to NODPA Co-President Kirk Arnold, “Farm transitions can be a challenge, whether it's adding a new member to the management team or ownership, transitioning to the next generation, or giving up long held responsibilities. The hope is that learning from what others have done and experienced can help some other farms/farmers with their own farm transitions.”
Thursday morning, we will meet at MK Dairy, Owego, NY, a recent generationally transferred farm that is owned and operated by Madeline and Bruce Poole. This young couple, along with their three young children, will host the tour and share their experiences of taking over the farm from Madeline’s family, implementing new practices that match their farming goals. We then move to the Nichols Volunteer Fire Hall at noon where registration and lunch kick off the start of the educational program.
At one o’clock the educational program begins, showcasing a line-up of experts, including Ted LeBow, Christopher Anderson, Jen Miller and Sarah Flack, who’ve helped many farm families put transfer plans in motion. Over the course of the two days, they will tell you how to get started, gather the best team to guide you, and set up your farm business for a successful transfer. They will be presenting alongside farmers who have been through the process or are in the midst of it, allowing for very lively discussions.
As the Plain Community continues to grow and seek farmland in the Northeast, Nathan and Alex Weaver share their generational farm transfer within the Plain Community, and George Wright maps out how he has successfully transferred his land to a Plain Community farmer.
Thursday late afternoon features the Social Hour and Trade Show, a time for socializing and visiting the trade show vendors, all of whom are great supporters of both NODPA and the organic dairy community, so plan to spend time with them. Over light refreshments, meet new friends and catch up with old ones. Following the Social Hour, we will enjoy a delicious banquet and have the annual NODPA Annual Meeting where we hear from the NODPA Board Co-President and the NODPA Executive Director.
The Thursday evening program, a conversation with a farmer panel and all attendees, will be especially relevant as we hear the stories of those who have been through or are going through a farm transfer. We will hear about creative successful transfers and ones that weren’t so successful-all helpful to learn from. Plus, we will hear from farmers about the emotional experience of changing roles and identities as the succession plan occurs. The audience will be encouraged to be active participants in the discussion, adding their stories, too.
Friday morning starts early, at 6:30 am, with continental breakfast followed by the Producer-Only meeting at 7:00 am. This meeting offers producers the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns in a setting without processors or other industry representatives, and discuss the future goals for NODPA and the future of organic dairy.
At 9:00 am, the educational program continues with Jen Miller’s and Sarah Flack’s presentation on setting up your farm business for a successful transfer. They discuss financial planning, analysis, and management for generational profitability, sharing lots of practical information.
Sarah Flack facilitates the next session on Succession Planning in the Plain Community, when Nathan and Alex Weaver describe their recent farm transfer, and George Wright shares his experience of selling his farm to a Plain Community farmer, and the unexpected opportunities that have resulted for himself and the community.
The closing session on Friday will be an introduction to Engelbert Farms, the site of the afternoon farm tour. Joe and John Engelbert, who have taken over management of the farm from their parents, Kevin and Lisa Engelbert, will discuss their farm operation and share their generational transfer experiences, including the roles that everyone has assumed over time, for example, Lisa started up and manages their farm store.
The 24th NODPA Field Days come to a close with Friday lunch, final announcements and the door prize drawings. Everyone heads over the Engelbert’s, a short 7 minute drive away, for the farm tour.
Posted: to Field Days on Sat, Jul 13, 2024
Updated: Sun, Jul 14, 2024
