Growing without succeeding by Dennis Pollock (Fresno Bee - July 15, 2007) tells an increasingly familiar tale: "The younger generation is having difficulty taking the reins from aging farmers."

As Pollock says, "Farmers sticking around longer sometimes means deferred dreams for their would-be replacements. In some cases, there's just not enough profit from the family farm to sustain partners... It means tough choices for family members sorting out how to keep an enterprise going as age takes its toll on the founding generation. When the time for a change in leadership comes, it can be too late to save a run-down farm."

A comprehensive succession plan addresses these issues by facilitating conversation between generations and establishing objectives to minimize uncertainties.