All recovered from the holidays?  Now it's time to think about the family you just saw, the future you've built for them and how to pass on your legacy.  Ben Metzger is a Director with Water Street Solutions.  He heads up our Legacy Department and talks here with Ken Rahjes from KRVN.

Make Farm Legacy Planning Your New Years Resolution - Metzger AUDIO

It's definitely something that gets put off, because while it's important, we sometimes don't see the urgency.  In his weekly post on www.farmfutures.com, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about why you need to put legacy planning on the top of your list for 2012.  Read the post here.

The future of your farm depends on what land you can farm.  Often times, that's a piece of the puzzle that seems to be a little out of our control.  Today Dean Heffta, Director of Development for Water Street Solutions talks with Ken Rahjes from KRVN about what you can do to strengthen the relationships with landlords, and therefore the chances that you'll be able to farm that land long term.  Building Bonds with Landlords - Heffta AUDIO

Tragedy doesn't wait for you to finish working through all of the other urgent things on your list.  It happens just like that.  And that tragedy, it it involves a partner in your farming operation, could substantially alter your future.  The time to plan is NOW.  Start by reading this post on www.farmfutures.com.  Here Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions walks through the things you need to consider to insure the viability of your operation in the case of a serious loss, the loss of your partner.  Read the post here.

The part of farming that's probably the most tenuous has to do with the future, and not really knowing, when you're making the investment in machinery or other long term assets, just how long you'll have access to the rented ground.  This week on www.farmfutures.com, Darren Frye, President and CEO of Water Street Solutions talks about building relationships with landlords to make that future more stable.  You can read his post HERE.

One of the secrets of getting your farm to where you want it to be, is having people understand where you see the future and what you want to create.  Water Street Solutions' Director of Development Dean Heffta speaks here with Ken Rahjes from KRVN about the importance of doing this.  Creating a Clear Vision - Heffta AUDIO

Nathan Kramer from Stapleton, Nebraska is just transitioning into farming.  His family has partnered with Water Street Solutions for about four years now.  Nathan has these comments about the relationship:

"They've not only helped me with the marketing but also showed me what they were doing and kind of transitioned me into the operation.  They told me what they were doing and also explained it and showed me a lot of the financial side of how things were impacting my operation.  I think it will make my transition smoother.  They've been a great asset and a great teacher for me."

"The relationship I have with my Water Street Market Advisor is great.  I talk to Sam about other things besides just marketing.  He takes an interest in what's going on with the farm and what's going on just in life and he really cares.  He knows my operation very well, maybe better than I do sometimes.  We talk once or twice a week.  He calls me up and tells me what he's done and it's not a big deal because I always know that he's got my best interest in mind.  A lot of the things that I would do if I was on my own wouldn't be the best thing.  It takes my emotions out of it by having Sam do the marketing.  He's not trying to push me away by any means.  It's how I'd prefer it be set up because my emotion gets in the way  and I get either too aggressive or too timid on the marketing.  He's looking at the numbers and seeing the charts and making a more unbiased decision than I can. 

Water Street's got something to offer for anyone that would accept the help.  They do a fabulous job.  It's a real personalized marketing plan.  They get to know your comfort level on the markets and really want to know your operation and always take your input into consideration on everything too."    

The next 16 months present an interesting opportunity for estate planning with the current exemption put in place by Congress.  Ben Metzger is Director of Estate Planning at Water Street Solutions.  He spoke recently with Cyndi Young of the Brownfield Network about some of the challenges and opportunities for planning for your farm's future.  Listen to the interview here.

If you've been following us here online for a while, and want to get to know us face to face, this year's Farm Progress Show is the perfect opportunity.  Water Street Solutions' display will be in the Varied Industries Tent #9606.  We're happy to talk with you about your farm, your concerns and the future success of your business.  Market Advisors and Crop Insurance Specialists will be giving updates and sharing insight into the challenges with the coming harvest and what that might mean to you.  The show is August 30, 31 and September 1 near Decatur, IL.  For more information about the show itself, click here.

Who doesn't feel overworked right now?  If you raised your hand, you're likely not a business owner.  You need a vacation, right?  But then you'll need another one when you come back and see how much work stacked up while you were gone.  There's a better way.  Water Street Solutions President and CEO Darren Frye talks about developing a plan for this in this week's Finance First post on www.farmfutures.com.  Read it here.