The “Farm Transitions Toolkit” was released Nov.12, 2013, by the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA).

The “Farm Transitions Toolkit” is a resource guide that was developed through a collaborative project involving LSP, MISA, Farmers’ Legal Action Group and ATTRA. Its development was guided by individuals representing a number of organizations. This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“This project is a perfect fit for NCAT’s ATTRA program,” said Carl Little, director of NCAT’s sustainable-agriculture programs. “It’s solid information that helps sustainable farmers and ranchers pass on both the knowledge and the philosophies they’ve built through the years.”

“Too often retiring farmers or people who find themselves in possession of family land feel pressured to make decisions that go against their own values,” added MISA Executive Director Helene Murray. The “Toolkit” can help people align those values with the decisions they make as far as their land’s future is concerned.”

The “Toolkit” contains resources, links to services, and practical calculation tables to help landowners establish a commonsense plan. It also features user-friendly resources on the economic, legal, governmental, agronomic, ecological and even social issues that must be considered in order to ensure a successful farm transition. It is rounded out with thought-provoking profiles of farmers who are in various stages of transitioning their enterprises to the next generation.

“Conservation Financing for Farm Transfer,” can now be downloaded free or purchased for a small handling fee on the ATTRA website at www.attra.ncat.org. You also can purchase paper versions by calling ATTRA at 800-346-9140.

“Valuing Sustainable Practices” is being finalized and will be available on the ATTRA website or by calling ATTRA in early December.

An online version of the “Toolkit” is available at www.landstewardshipproject.org/farmtransitionstoolkit. Paper versions can be purchased by calling 800-909-MISA (6472).

http://landstewardshipproject.org/morefarmers/farmtransitionstoolkit