Succession Planning Fact Sheet
Joan Sinclair Petzen, Farm Business Management
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Using a Facilitator to Keep Your Succession Planning Process on Track
Succession planning can be a daunting task. Many farm managers, particularly in smaller businesses, may only be involved in succession planning once or twice in a lifetime, when getting into or out of the business. Thinking about succession planning as a process rather than an event can help one gain perspective on the intentional time commitment required to make your transition plan work. Often business owners rely on a facilitator, coordinator, or navigator skilled in understanding family businesses to help keep the process moving and be certain the right people are involved in developing and carrying out the succession plan. Open the PDF file below to view the entire fact sheet.
Succession Planning Factsheet (pdf; 1133KB)
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Upcoming Events
2026 Soybean & Small Grains Congress
February 11, 2026
Henrietta, NY
Participant Registration for the 2026 Soybean & Small Grains Congress NOW OPEN!
2026 Forage Congress
March 12, 2026
Nunda, NY
Due to the unprecedented winter storm that recently impacted travel conditions across the region and U.S., combined with extreme cold temperatures and associated safety concerns, Forage Congress was postponed out of an abundance of caution. This decision was made with the safety of our participants, speakers, staff, and venue partners as the highest priority.
We are pleased to officially announce that Forage Congress has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 12, 2026, and will be held at The Nunda Ranch as originally planned.
Address: 2278-NY 436, Nunda, New York 14517
Sponsorship opportunities, vendor participation, and event registration are now open. We are excited to reconvene this important educational program and look forward to welcoming producers, industry partners, and speakers for a full day of applied, research-based forage systems programming.
From Dry to Fresh: Transition Cow Management Training
March 12, 2026
Albion, NY
This is a 1-day hands-on training in transition cow management offered in English and Spanish.