We’re taking a gamble planting crops with such uncertainty. Since I last wrote, stress, tension and anxiety have continued to grow. 

My parents’ divorce and my farm succession as 51% of the existing partnership continues to drag, and the only thing progressing is the legal bill.

If you’re in a traditional family farming operation and have no written legal documentation as to what steps will be taken as result of a family dispute, divorce, death or fraudulent actions, I advise having that difficult conversation.

See also: Costs up and yields down for Cheshire potato farmer

About the author

Richard Orr

Richard Orr farms cereals and potatoes in a reduced cultivation system in County Down, Northern Ireland, with his wife and two children. He is a cereals and oilseeds sector council member and focuses on soil and plant health. He also keeps a small number of cattle, pigs and sheep.

Read more articles by Richard Orr

I had a good understanding and several documents, but nothing on what to do when something goes wrong. Whether you’re looking at it as parents or as siblings – talk about it.

If you all have each other’s best interests at heart it should be a relief to know how your future looks. I’m so grateful for my wife’s support as this has a massive effect on her and our two kids.

I gave my parents time to sort their issues and when I asked them straight: “Do I need to look for a job and wind this business up?” I was told: “The business sure will be yours.”

However, when legal teams get involved and people get greedy, families get torn apart.

Given the present turmoil around the world, I ask myself why I am fighting for my future in agriculture, given that no one seems to care whether we produce food or not.

If farming is to survive and thrive we need young people working alongside the older generation, learning from their vast experience, bringing new ideas and enthusiasm.

Farming is within us and it’s a passion. That is why I have rented land again for next year.

I currently have half the wheat area sown into perfect conditions and it’s just emerging after a good inch of rain. I’m also looking at spring beans as an alternative crop.

So on the positive, we have crops in the ground and we push on as failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

If anyone wants to chat about a similar situation to mine, don’t be afraid to get in touch.