Tracy Brunet’s Post

New program alert for Canadian farmers. Succession planning is one of the biggest sources of stress in agriculture and Groundworks is doing something about it. Groundworks is a FREE pilot program helping farmers navigate succession planning. Full details below…

Three Myths That Quietly Kill USDA Program Completion Myth 1: If farmers enroll, they will finish Myth 2: More documentation upfront saves time later Myth 3: Outreach can fix broken application design The truth: Enrollment is not participation. Outreach cannot compensate for friction. And asking for everything up front rarely saves time. Programs that finish strong are designed for follow-through, not just sign-up. That means respecting real farm schedules, reducing early cognitive load, and making progress visible. Completion is not accidental. It is designed. Learn how to take your USDA program to the next level with FarmRaise.

I’m honored to share that an article I wrote was featured in the Illinois Farm Bureau Partners Spring 2026 magazine. The article reflects the work we do at COUNTRY Financial® to support farmers with thoughtful, specialized financial planning—recognizing that a farm is not just a business, but a legacy. It highlights the importance of understanding the unique financial, tax, and succession challenges farm families face and the value of advisors who truly know agriculture. I’m especially grateful to Craig Lemoine, CFP(r), PhD, MRFC and Andrew Herman, CFP®, RICP, AFFP for contributing their expertise and insights. Their perspectives helped bring this topic to life and reinforce the impact that education, collaboration, and experience can have in helping farmers plan with confidence. Proud to contribute to this conversation and to be part of an organization committed to serving the agricultural community. 🌾📊 #FinancialPlanning #Agriculture #FarmFamilies #ThoughtLeadership #Grateful #PlanningIllini #AFFP #AdvancedMarkets #ExperienceMore #COUNTRYFinancial

"You can't live on equity alone". As we work through farm and ranch transition, taking a deeper look at the business and understanding the numbers is vital for everyone involved. One of the topics our Keep Farmers Farming Legacy Consultants discuss with farmers and ranchers is compensation and equity, and how important it is to get both correct when transitioning an operation. Our team uses the Profit Finder tool they built to help farmers and ranchers see their business and work through conversations such as budgeting for the operation. https://lnkd.in/gYE9ANV9

Two days ago, we held a periodic County Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) meeting to assess the progress of project implementation, align our strategic priorities, and propose technical interventions aimed at achieving the programme’s goals. The discussions emphasized the prioritization of essential county investments and the distribution of inclusion grants to Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to improve farmers’ access to financial services and enhance livelihood opportunities. The Committee also formulated key recommendations to be submitted to the County Project Steering Committee for approval and subsequent action. Through this initiative, Siaya County is on track to enhance value addition and broaden market participation in selected priority value chains, contributing to ongoing efforts to boost agricultural productivity, increase farmer incomes, and promote sustainable agricultural development.

When family farms and ranches fail to transition successfully, the ripple effects impact: - Rural Community Viability: local businesses lose customers, schools lose students - Agricultural Economy: loss of generational knowledge and proven operations - Land Use Patterns: consolidation of farms and ranches Our Keep Farmers Farming program addresses this challenge head-on with professional transition planning support. Our approach helps farm and ranch families work through transition planning, organizational structure and communication within the operation, estate planning, profitability discussions, diversification exploration, and more. The program is about more than asset transfer - it's about ensuring South Dakota's agricultural industry remains strong for generations to come. If you're interested in learning more and seeing how your organization can get involved and support this cause, find out more about the program on our website or reach out to our CEO Kyle Holt at kyle@sdagfoundation.org. https://lnkd.in/gfjsrnSp

You know that moment when you're on an important client call and your sheep escape? No? Just me? Well, that moment taught me more about running a business than any course ever did. Before the farm, I thought I was bad at business. Turns out nothing exposes broken infrastructure quite like trying to manage escaped livestock while trying to sound professional. Here's what those "learning opportunities" taught me: You can't plant tomatoes in July and eat them in August. Timing matters, you prep now for what you'll harvest later. Crisis doesn't care about your calendar. That fence is going to break at the worst possible time. Build infrastructure BEFORE the emergency, not after. Turkeys don't herd themselves... until they do. Consistency creates automation. Even feral farm cats need shelter when it's cold enough. Independence is great, but infrastructure matters. Baby skunks are dangerously cute. No business lesson here, just facts. So, what is my point exactly? I stopped trying to be more disciplined and started building better infrastructure instead. I documented my actual processes and wouldn’t you know it, writing them down revealed everything that wasn’t working. I created non-negotiables that kept things running on my worst days. I started planning in quarters, leaning into the seasonality. Now my business runs even when life is chaotic. Which is quite often if I’m being totally honest. I'm Michelle MacNeil, Certified Systems Business Coach and hobby farmer. I help small business owners that are in the “too successful to quit but too overwhelmed to enjoy it” phase of business. No complicated software. No corporate BS. Just practical infrastructure built for real life, not perfect conditions. P.S. I write about this stuff every week in my email. Farm stories meets business reality. More stories, less advice, always practical, cute animal pictures often included. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gG6Xgi-y

This wasn’t content creation, it was documentation of value being created. From seed to harvest, this tomato harvest tells a quiet story of patience, structure, and returns. What looks like a simple farm video is evidence that real assets work while you wait. At Richmond Farm Estate, agriculture isn’t hustle it’s strategy. This harvest represents food security, predictable income, and long-term wealth. Smart investors don’t chase noise. They position early and let results speak.

B+LNZ Focus Group's are in full swing with active groups in nearly every corner of the country and on an impressive range of topics. We outline some current groups: https://lnkd.in/eAKr7RBv B+LNZ Focus Groups are small, topic‑driven groups that bring together farmers who want to explore a specific aspect of their business in depth, share experiences, and put practical learnings into action. Groups are established based on regional needs, identified alongside B+LNZ Farmer Councils and Kāhui.

Supporting the next generation of Canadian farmers through knowledge, advice and capital... In our newest episode, FCC’s Colin Brisebois shares why today’s young producers are stepping into one of the most opportunity-filled eras in Canadian agriculture. From digital innovation to sustainability and evolving business models, the industry is transforming, and so are the tools available to help producers succeed. Colin shares how Farm Credit Canada is committed to supporting the next generation and building their confidence through knowledge, advice, and capital. If you are looking for a positive and exciting conversation about the future of agriculture...don't miss this episode. 🎧🎥 Enabling the Next Generation of Canadian Agriculture and Food https://lnkd.in/gyzUmQVw If you are interested in their transition lending solutions, we discussed them in more detail in our first conversation together back in November. You can catch the first conversation here... 🎧🎥 Farm Transition Made Easier: Inside FCC’s Transition Loan https://lnkd.in/gbTihza4 If transition planning is on the horizon for your farm, you will want to watch these two episodes for sure. FCC / FAC Tracy Brunet #Agriculture #NextGenerationAg #YoungFarmers #AgLeadership #FutureOfFarming