FMC launches succession program to support farm families in transition

Sept. 27, 2016 – Farm Management Canada (FMC) has launched an enhanced version of its former Step Up mentorship program to help bridge the gap between generations of farmers to provide Canada’s future farmers with the best chance for success.
 
Succession planning – also called transition planning, ensures farm business continuity: it is the only process that links one generation to future generations involved in the farm business, and addresses how the vision, goals and dreams of a farm will carry on.
 
“According to the recent study, Making Dollars and Sense, less than 1/3 of Canada’s farmers have a succession plan, while close to 40 per cent are in the succession stage of their farm business,” says Heather Watson, executive director of FMC. She goes on to note, “this signals not only a significant risk to the Canadian agricultural sector, but also an immense opportunity to promote and provide the information, tools and resources for farmers to improve their succession planning practices.”
 
The Bridging the Gap: Step Up to Succession program is comprised of a series of Succession & Transition Planning workshops for farm families coupled with a Successor Development program, exclusively for young farmers.
 
FMC will be working with renowned farm family coach Elaine Froese and business management consultant Cedric MacLeod to help lead the program and coach participants throughout their journey.
 
In the true spirit of collaboration and partnership, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program, the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum and 4-H Canada are partnering with FMC to help ensure the program is a complete success.
 
For more information on the program, please visit Farm Management Canada’s website.