April 26, 2021

Farm Succession: Contingency Plan

A contingency plan is a set of procedures that defines how a business will operate in the event that some sort of disruption to the business occurs. In this Purdue Commercial AgCast episode, the ninth in our Farm Transition Planning series, Dr. Maria Marshall and Renee Wiatt join Dr. Brady Brewer to discuss what is in a contingency plan, risks that a contingency plan can cover, and why having one is needed for a successful farm transition.

 

The companion episodes in this podcast series can be found at http://purdue.ag/successionplan:

  1. “Farm Transition Planning”, June 24, 2020
  2. “Farm Succession: Transitioning Business Management”, July 22, 2020
  3. “Farm Succession: Feasibility of Adding A Family Employee”, August 20, 2020
  4. Farm Succession: Human Resources For Transition Planning”, September 30, 2020
  5. “Farm Succession: Conflict Management For Transition Planning”, December 18,2020
  6. “Farm Succession: Business Governance For Transition Planning”, January 26, 2021
  7. "Farm Succession: Business Entities", February 24, 2021
  8. "Farm Succession: Operating Agreements", March 17, 2021

 

More information from the Purdue Farm Transition Team  can be found here and resources from the Purdue Institute for Family Business can be found at https://purdue.ag/fambiz and don’t forget to follow and subscribe to the farm succession planning YouTube channel.

TEAM LINKS:

PART OF A SERIES:

RELATED RESOURCES

Are Cover Crops Worth It? The Tradeoff Between Soil Health and Farm Profitability

June 24, 2026

Cover crops offer potential soil health benefits, but adoption decisions involve tradeoffs. Learn how scenario analysis can help farmers evaluate the impact of cover crops on profitability, risk, and long-term farm goals.

READ MORE

Brazil’s 2027 Corn & Soybean Crop May Fall Short of Expectations

June 24, 2026

Brazil, the world’s largest soybean producer and a major corn exporter, is facing a more complicated production outlook for the 2027 crop year. Low commodity prices, high fertilizer costs, tighter credit conditions, and El Niño conditions, already present and expected to strengthen later this year, are all weighing production prospects. In this Purdue Commercial AgBrief, Joana Colussi looks at the key factors that could influence Brazil’s next crop season, and what it could mean for U.S. corn and soybean producers.

READ MORE

June Crop Basis Update: Region-Wide Strengthening Continues

June 19, 2026

Corn and soybean basis strengthened broadly across the Eastern Corn Belt over the past month, breaking from typical seasonal trends. Indiana and Ohio continue to show some of the strongest basis levels in the region, while recent gains in Iowa have narrowed historical gaps. Use the Purdue Crop Basis Tool to monitor local opportunities as summer marketing decisions approach.

READ MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

We are taking a short break, but please plan to join us at one of our future programs that is a little farther in the future.

2026 Crop Cost and Return Guide

September 16, 2025

The 2026 Purdue Crop Cost and Return Guide provides estimated costs and net returns for planting, growing, and harvesting corn, soybeans, and wheat in the upcoming year. Cost and return information presents information for low, average, and high productivity soils. Early projections point to slightly higher breakeven prices.

READ MORE

2025 Farmland Values & Market Trends

September 9, 2025

Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe and Michael Langemeier as they discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes reviewing the 2025 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates survey results. The survey shows Indiana land prices continue to rise and are anticipated to continue a modest increase for the rest of 2025 for most of the state.

READ MORE

Farmland Prices Increase Despite Downward Pressure, Purdue Ag Econ Report August 2025

August 19, 2025

Indiana farmland prices have continued the trend of record highs in 2025, according to the latest Purdue Farmland Value and Cash Rents Survey results. The average price of top-quality farmland reached $14,826 per acre, a 3.0% increase from June 2024. Statewide, cash rents increased from 1.5 to 1.7% for poor-, average-, and top-quality land.

READ MORE