As an industry, agriculture is undergoing a transformation. Not only is technology changing how and when things are done, but the people who work in the dirt are also rapidly evolving.

“When we think about helping families either with transitioning an operation or simply making changes to it, there are often two different buckets for that,” Clark said. “The first bucket is a change on the farm when we help transition a farm to a new operator. Most often, that happens when a new tenant is brought on after the old tenant retires.”   Halderman knows each market well and has multiple connections to other farm operators who may be interested in being a tenant on the transitioning farm.

Offering themselves as scapegoats in specific scenarios, Halderman can also be the “bad guy” when letting a tenant go. Their most important role in any situation around transition or change is connecting the dots for the benefit of their client, the landowner.

“We know a lot of farmers in different areas who are looking to add more acres to their operation and would make good tenants,” Clark said. “We help vet possible tenants so land owners can find the right fit for their operation.”

Some changes on the farm have nothing to do with the people tending it but will ultimately change how the farm operates in the future.

Sometimes, clients need help weighing their options when it comes to what type of lease they should be using. Maybe they’re moving from a share crop lease to some sort of cash rent agreement. No matter what direction the client ultimately chooses to go, Halderman has experience operating farms with the client’s chosen lease type.

“A lease-type change can be a bigger operational change, but sometimes we help people with something that feels small as well,” Clark explained. “Perhaps a landowner is interested in an agronomic change, like adding cover crops in the fall.”

Halderman can help farm management clients evaluate these types of changes. Serving as an outside perspective without a vested interest in the operation, Halderman can help landowners weigh the pros and cons of their decisions.

“The other type of transition that we often see, the second bucket, has to do with life changes; most often, that means passing the farm from one generation to the next,” Clark said. “Sometimes that means we help navigate the transition between the family member(s) that had been managing the farm, and other times we’re helping a family decide if they want to keep the farm or let it go.”

Clark explained that many area representatives at Halderman wear three different hats when it comes to serving their customers: one for farm management, one for farm appraisal, and another for farm real estate.

“Not one role is more important than the other; our job is to figure out what our clients need for their unique situation and then execute the plan we come up with alongside them,” Clark said. “It’s our philosophy that if it has anything to do with farmland, we can help. We’re a good place to start because we have a lot of resources, and it’s unlikely that we don’t have someone on staff who can help with a landowner’s particular need.”

Transitions equate to change, which is always a challenge. If you find yourself facing a transition like any of those Sam described, please reach out to Halderman at 800-424-2324 or your local area representative to start the discussion. Halderman Can Help!