In the first video of a farm succession series with Adirondack Land Trust, Megan Harris-Pero explains farm succession planning from an attorney’s perspective. She describes the process as setting a course for the business, that may include estate, management, financial and retirement planning.

Learn why Harris-Pero often starts with putting the senior farmer’s personal estate plan in place (will, power of attorney and health care proxy). She also explains why a team that includes attorneys, business consultants, family consultants, financial advisors, and tax professionals can help make a farm succession go as smoothly as possible.

For farmers who have not yet identified a successor, she provides valuable resources, including alternative ways for preserving land for agricultural use. She also explains why farm succession is most successful when it occurs over time.

Be sure to check out additional resources for farmers at the end of the video.