11/12/07 Succession is one PGI agenda item

Thanks to a ten thousand dollar grant from USDA's Risk Management Agency the Potato Growers of Idaho are trying to educate spud farmers about sustainability and succession. PGI's executive director Keith Esplin says producers need to start developing a succession plan early especially if they hope to have a son or daughter running the farm in the future. ESPLIN "There's so many things involved. The asset transfers all bring tax implications to mind but then you've also got management issues. A lot of farmers they may have run the farm for themselves for 40 years but if the farm is going to stay a successful operation someone else has to take over that management. We'll be discussing all those things." The first workshop on this topic will take place during the All Grower Annual Meeting this Wednesday in Pocatello. That will provide first-hand training to help growers recognize the important elements that need to be addressed when putting together a successful plan. A second workshop will be offered in January during the annual Potato Conference, which will also take place in Pocatello on the campus of Idaho State University. ESPLIN "You can't get the whole thing done obviously in a couple of sessions like that. I think if growers can realize how important it is that they plan ahead it will help them out." Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott