Helping farmers plan to hand the reins to the next generation
27 April 2010The Government has acted on a key recommendation from the drought policy review to better help older farmers plan to hand their farms on to the next generation with an extra $2.43 million for the Rural Financial Counselling Service.
With the extra funding issues surrounding succession planning should be a key focus for rural financial counsellors.
The drought review expert social panel found that as the average age of farmers continued to climb, many found it hard to face the complex issues around succession.
The panel found that when drought hits, issues around succession which have not been addressed place greater strain on families already under pressure.
There are 110 rural financial counsellors working at 14 Rural Financial Counselling Services across the country.
According to Rural Financial Counselling Service figures, counsellors have worked with more than 8,550 farmers in the last nine months alone.
More than one quarter of those were aged 60 years and over and nearly 1,500 did not have a succession plan.
RFCs will help to suggest suitable succession planning advisors and help farmers identify the documents required to visit appropriate advisors.
These may include accountants, financial planners, solicitors or family meeting facilitators.
RFCs can provide a keylink in the chain between farmers and suitable advisors.
Farms are not just businesses – they’re homes and, in many cases, they’re the family history.
taken from www.maff.gov.au/media/media_releases/2010/april/helping_farmers_plan_to_hand_the_reins_to_the_next_generation
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