FARM and RANCH SUCCESSION PLANNING QUESTIONNAIRE
Please complete this questionnaire and return to: Jennifer Taylor, Center for Land-Based Learning,
5265 Putah Creek Road, Winters, CA 95694. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Taylor by email at
[email protected] or by phone at 530-795-4146.
1. Are you a primary operator –person who is responsible for the day to day operation and
management – of a farm or ranch?
YES
NO
If no, please indicate if you are answering the questions for a farm or ranch you are involved with and
what role you have in the operation: YES role: ____________________________________
2. Which of the following enterprises generated income for your farm in 2011? Check all that apply.
Row crops
Tree nuts
Seed
Produce
Beef
Dairy
Alfalfa
Tree fruits
Grains
Grapes
Sheep
Other:___________________
3. How many acres did you operate in 2011? _______ acres owned, _______ acres leased
4. What county or counties is your farm or ranch in? ________________________________________
5. How many people work on your farm, including yourself? __________________________________
6. Please indicate which statement best describes your or the primary operator’s thought on
retirement from farming.
Would like to retire in 0 to 5 years
Would like to retire in 16 to 20 years
Would like to retire in 6 to 10 years
Have not thought about retiring
Would like to retire in 11 to 15 years
Do not want to retire
7. How old is the primary operator of your farm? Check one:
Under 25 years
45-54 years
25-34 years
55-64 years
35-44 years
65 or older
8. At what age do you expect to stop providing labor to the farm? ________________
9. At what age do you expect to stop maintaining management control of the farm? ______________
10. Please indicate with whom you have discussed retirement plans and/or plans to pass on farming
operations. Check all that apply.
Spouse
Accountant
Children
Banker
Siblings
Tax Preparer
Other Family Members
Estate Planner
Friend
Financial Consultant
Attorney
Other:__________________________________________
* to save space when we say “farm” and “farming” it includes all commercial growers, farmers and ranchers
11. Please indicate any steps you have already taken to prepare for the continuance of the farm or
your interests in the farm. Check all that apply.
Estate Plan
Designated a successor of farm operations
Trust
Designated a successor of farm management
Will
Other:___________________________________
12. Which of the following have been or are barriers to developing farm succession plans? (Rate each
option by filling in the appropriate box: 1 = Not a Barrier, 2 = Moderate Barrier, 3 = Major Barrier)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
Lack of information on succession planning
Security of retirement income
Cost of legal advice
Family disagreements
Lack of interest from family
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
Fear to talk about subject with family
Lack of shared vision for the farm
Have not seen a need for succession planning
Tax concerns
Other:_______________________________
13. Would you be interested in attending workshops in the winter and spring months of 2012 that
provide information and tools on farm succession planning?
___Yes
____No
14. If you answered YES to the previous question, please indicate the type of information you would
be most interested in receiving. (Rate each option by filling in the appropriate box: 1 = Not at all
Interested, 5 = Very Interested)
Mechanisms for transferring assets
12345
Strategies to value and distribute assets
Financial planning strategies
12345
Tax implications of estate transfers
12345
Transferring farm operations
12345
Transferring farm management
12345
Keeping the business viable during transfer
12345
12345
12345
12345
12345
12345
12345
12345
12345
Agriculture Conservation Easements
Help with making a succession plan
Learning from other farmers
Creating a vision for the farm’s future
Strategies on dealing with family disagreements
Other: (specify)________________________________
Other: (specify)________________________________
Optional: If you want us to send you information on upcoming workshops on farm succession
planning, please provide your contact information below.
Name:
Farm:
Address:
City, State Zip:
Phone:
Email:
Voluntary Information: In furtherance of federal, state, and local Civil Rights Laws, all the organizations involved with this program
extend its services and outreach programs to all, without regard to race, color, or national origin. To better identify recipients of our
programs, you are invited to complete the following section. Your responses will be regarded in strict confidence.
Ethnic background:
___ African American
___ American Indian/Native American
___ Hispanic
___ White
___ Asian/Pacific Islander
Gender: ___Male
___ Female
Date of birth: ______________
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? ___ Yes
___ No
Thank you very much for your time
___ Other