Succession planning is being addressed across the nation to help farmers and ranchers plan to pass down an operation to the next generation.

Many farming arrangements rest on handshake deals, wherein two people essentially trust in one another’s word. When stakes are fairly low and flexibility is paramount, unwritten handshake deals can be a helpful tool. However, when farmers are investing money, time and other resources of considerable value in a farm operation, reliance on a handshake can sometimes prove to be a costly error.

As a dairy farmer, you are no stranger to innovation and efficiency on the farm. So when approached by developers interested in building an anaerobic digester on your property, it is essential to consider the big picture. Here's what you need to know as you navigate this opportunity.

Horses have been an integral part of livestock production since they were first imported with cattle by the Spanish in the early 1500s. While some modern ranches have transitioned to the use of “motorized horses” – all-terrain and utility-task vehicles (ATVs, UTVs) and dirt bikes – others continue the legacy of gathering, sorting, doctoring, branding and moving cattle by horseback.

Water rights can make, or break, an agricultural real estate transaction. Irrigation rights alone were appraised at over $24 million in a deal this article’s author helped to close.

Whether you are a hauler, a buyer, a seller, an intermediate livestock auction, order buyer, dealer, packer and so on, there may be some legal considerations for you to take into consideration for your role in the process of hauling cattle.

Agricultural leases are an important tool heavily relied on by many farmers and ranchers across the U.S. agricultural industry. Although the parties are free to negotiate a wide variety of terms, agriculture leases should, at minimum, contain the “Four P's”: the parties, property, period and payment.

In the realm of cattle feeding, navigating a bullish market can feel much like riding a bull – thrilling, swift and inherently risky. But for those equipped with the right financial tools and strategies, this volatility can be beneficial.

Cattle grazing may be a good use of cattle grazing land, but it may not be the only good use. Particularly as nationwide climate goals have driven investment throughout the country in clean electric and carbon offset technologies, cattle graziers may find new market opportunities to make mixed use of cattle grazing land.

Most of the time, people say they don’t need anything in writing because it is just a simple deal and done. And maybe that is true. But what if it’s not?