Design Your Succession Plan

Design Your Succession Plan "Empowering families to get started on their succession plan."

Online Zoom Series Coming to NYS!

How will your family farm operate in the future when the owner retires or is gone? Are you currently working with another generation who may be questioning their role in the future of the farm or are you yourself questioning your current role?

More than 80% of farm families hope to pass the family farm on to the next generation, but research shows only 30% of family farms survive to the second generation, and only 12% survive to the third generation. A successful transition to the next generation takes careful planning.

 To help NYS farm families start their succession planning process, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators will be utilizing a new interactive program designed by North Dakota State University Extension: Design Your Succession Plan. This program provides tools and resources for producers who want to begin the succession planning process.

 Participants will have an opportunity to open the lines of communication with family to create a shared vision for the family business. They will also learn to choose and work with professionals such as attorneys, accountants, lenders, insurance agents and tax experts to construct a plan and documents that put the family's vision into action. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.

 "The program will prepare you to envision, communicate, plan, write and shape the legacy of your family farm, as well as save hundreds of dollars by completing these crucial planning steps before visiting with professionals," said Bonnie Collins, Farm Management Educator, CCE Oneida.

 This six session Tuesday evening series is being offered via Zoom with an online learning platform for use in-between sessions. Session dates are: 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7 & 12/14. The cost is $100 per farm family and includes a workbook valued at $25. There are scholarships available for veterans. Please choose veteran as your farm category and there will be no charge for participating in this series. There will be follow-up to confirm your veteran status prior to the start of the series. There is also the ability to add additional workbooks at a cost of $25 at registration. Contact Laura Biasillo at lw257@cornell.edu or visit https://tinyurl.com/z5ujstpw for more information. The registration deadline is October 24^th to ensure on-time delivery of the workbook.

Starting Your Succession Plan

Family Meetings and Conversations

Determining What You Want

The Next Generation & Your Legacy

I thought I was covered for that! Farm Insurance Webinar Series, Jan-Feb 2026

January 13, 2026 : Session 1: Insurance and Risk Management 101

January 20, 2026 : Session 2: Liability Insurance

January 27, 2026 : Session 3:Protecting Yourself from Disasters (Crop Insurance, USDA FSA programs and Flood Insurance)

February 3, 2026 : Session 4: Insuring People (health, life and disability insurance)

February 10, 2026 : Session 5: Property Insurance

2026 Greenhouse Growers School

January 21, 2026 : 2026 Greenhouse Growers School
Voorheesville, NY

2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series

January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield

January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops

February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates

February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?

March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi

March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast