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Why Fair Doesn’t Always Mean Equal When Dividing Farm Assets
Dividing farm assets among family members can be one of the most challenging parts of farm transition planning. Nebraska Extension Ag Economists Anastacia Meyer and Jessica Groskopf discuss why treating family members fairly doesn’t always mean dividing assets equally.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Transitioning your farm operation to the next generation has some significant obstacles to overcome.
Sometimes family expectations can be problematic.
And what is divided up can sometimes seem to not be fair to all family members associated with the farm.
On today's program, Anastasia Meyer and Jessica Grosskop from UNL Center for Ag Profitability, talk about ways to navigate through this difficult process.
Anastasia begins the program by talking about how equal is not always fair.
[Anastacia Meyer, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist]
So 1st off, I want to say, there is no such thing as fair.
It's hard to really quantify what fair is.
It's different for everybody, whether it's 25% or one field, one field, one field.
Fair.
If you have 4 kids who don't want anything to do with the farm, it might be fair to split it all equally, but really when it gets difficult is, when one kid, one air, whether it's a son or a daughter, stays on that farm.
Works their life for the farm, reinvests into the farm, and then it split equally.
That's, that's probably not fair.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Jessica echoes this sentiment.
Making the point that the owner of the operation has to make those tough decisions.
[Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist]
The owner of those assets has to decide what is fair, and it will always be questioned.
What is truly fair.
And so I think families default to equal, because that's the most acceptable definition of fair.
When we're talking about farms and we're talking about ranges, equal becomes extraordinarily difficult to get to.
Are we talking about an equal number of acres?
Are we talking about an equal value?
Those kinds of things that come into play that I might value differently from you.
And that's when even the term equal becomes difficult to ascertain.
To some extent, I wish they would let go of the words fair and the words equal, because it's almost impossible to actually, perfectly divide your estate in that manner, let alone factory in the things that Anastasia was saying, around contribution and sweat equity and, you know, who stuck around and who didn't and and how they have contributed to this business.
And so, if I would place a challenge out to everyone.
The challenge is, Come up with that ultimate vision and know and understand that equal and fair probably aren't going to be achievable through this process.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Anastasia says family feelings play a big part in some of these decisions, but sometimes misunderstandings can happen.
[Anastacia Meyer, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist]
I also think sometimes parents need to hear that it is okay to not split everything equal because that's what their idea of fare is.
If I give one kid more, it doesn't mean that I love them anymore.
And we work with a really great attorney who essentially puts it down like this.
Your kid, if your kid doesn't love you now?
Giving them a huge inheritance isn't gonna make them love you anymore.
And so it's a hard pill to swallow.
And parents at the end of the day want to treat everybody.
The same when want to love their kids all the same and that's how they show their love.
But it's okay not to give the kids equal inheritance.
And it comes down to what are your goals?
What is your goal?
Is it that everyone gets treated fairly or do you want your farm to succeed?
You can't do both, most likely.
Land values are too high, far income right now is too low.
It's just not feasible if you want that farm or ranch or whatever that business likely is related to agriculture to succeed if they're having to buy out their other siblings.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
We'll explore more of this topic of dividing farm assets on a future episode for Nebraska extension almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of i.e. And our media, and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans.
Go to extension.unl.edu.
Impacts of Wet Weather on Corn Grain and Residue
Recent flooding and persistent rainfall across Nebraska have created challenges for corn growers and cattle producers. Kansas State University Veterinarian and Toxicologist Scott Fritz discusses the risks of feeding cattle wet or moldy corn residue and what producers should consider to protect herd health.
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[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
Recent wet conditions in Nebraska could create challenges for corn producers and feed quality on corn residue.
Dr. Scott Fritz, from the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine, starts the discussion by stating there are actually 3 separate issues.
Sprouted corn, moldy corn, and tar spot.
[Dr. Scott Fritz, Kansas State Associate Professor of Toxicology]
Yeah, I think I'd say 1st and foremost, that tar spot, again, is a plant disease. Not really an animal pathogen per se.
Um, so I think what I would say is it's not an established cause of cattle health issues.
But I don't know that there's actually controlled feeding trials that have improved that to be a safe thing.
But that said, it's not recognized to cause the issues, but what it can do, you know, it kind of indicates that the growth conditions are right for mold to grow because that's what it is.
And so some of these other funguses or fungal diseases can certainly occur, you know, kind of coexist in the same stand.
That's one thing, and then you talked about a little bit about nutritional degradation.
And so there's some research with tar spot, especially in corn silage that you just get, you know, porter digestibility and the forge quality just isn't what it is.
And so from a producer perspective, I just, you know, the feed quality might not be what it is in a normal year.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Dr. Fritz says sprouted corn is also an issue that doesn't seem to present much problem for feed, but there could be mold present on some of that wet corn.
[Dr. Scott Fritz, Kansas State Associate Professor of Toxicology]
The sprouted ears don't concern me as much.
Um, you know, sprouting doesn't really, doesn't really mean any thing from a, you know, I'm a toxicologist.
It doesn't mean anything from a toxicity perspective.
What it does tell me is there's persistent moisture there, which we, you know, we've kind of covered, can contribute to mold growth and maybe some deterioration of the feed quality there.
But I think sprouted ears and mold kind of go hand in hand.
The moisture's there and a lot of those sprouted ears, you know, can potentially have some molds growing on them.
Some of those molds can produce mycotoxins, which just means toxin from a fungus, really.
And, you know, you can't tell by looking at it and there's different funguses that can cause, you know, the traditional ear rot.
Some of those can produce, some of them can't, and, you know, cattle in general do a pretty good job of detoxifying mycotoxins compared to other species, but it still depends on the specific mycotox, and we're talking about how much is there, you know, the type or class of cattle we're putting in there, and then how much that contributes kind of to the total diet.
So I would say cattle are more resistant than other species, but they're not immune to mycotoxin effects.
It's really hard to, I guess, then draw a safe line in the sand, so to speak.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Dr. Fritz emphasizes that not only does the conditions of the corn matter, it also matters what kind of cattle are feeding on it.
[Dr. Scott Fritz, Kansas State Associate Professor of Toxicology]
You know, I kind of associate the fall residue grazing most of the time with pregnant beef cows.
I mean, that one, at least on this year's market, maybe makes me a little bit more nervous than others.
Just, you know, the fetus in there is sometimes more sensitive to things the adults are exposed to.
Um, and I'm not specifically talking micatoxis.
I'm just talking about toxic effects in general.
A lot of times the, the pregnant cow will sort of protect yourself at expense of the fetus.
You know, if you jump into other classes, yearlings or, you know, some of those other non-breeding animal types, I think I would be less concerned for the most part, but it's still going to come down to a dose thing.
So a lot of things to take into consideration there really, and, you know, I think you work with veterinarian and your nutritionist and kind of evaluate what you're seeing in the field compared to the class of cattle you're planning to put out there.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
We'll return to this topic on a future almanac program for Nebraska Extension Almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of IE&R Media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
Wildfires Open Pastures and Ranges to Invasive Plants
Wildfires in western Nebraska have left pastures and rangeland vulnerable to invasive plants. Nebraska Extension Water and Cropping Systems Educator Gary Stone says producers should scout their land this fall to identify new invasive species early and take steps to control their spread before they become a bigger problem
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[Mike Straub, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
The devastation caused by wildfires across Nebraska this year is unimaginable.
Communities and people's lives have changed forever, an estimated 981,502 acres have burned statewide in 2026, including 642,029 acres in the moral fire in the sandhills.
As ranchers work to restore their past years in range land, another concern deserves attention, the potential for invasive plants to establish an areas where they were previously absent.
Invasive plans can spread through equipment, wind, water, wildlife, livestock, and transported forage.
Nebraska extension, water, and cropping systems educator, Gary Stone, tells us how to be proactive and why it's important to establish a solution early.
[Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping Educator]
The importance of early detection and rapid responses so that the uh, ranchers, farmers, county officials can find noxious weeds early before they get established and then uh, take care of them while it's still cheaper and easier to manage.
Uh, Ventanada, Meduce ahead or 2 invasive grasses that they definitely need to be on the watch out for, uh, absinthe wormwood, which is a broad leaf.
We do have that in the pain handle.
That is one they need to watch.
These could have come in through forages that the ranchers from other states have given us to help the ranchers in the sandhills after the burn, feed their livestock.
Well, these plants, there, any invasive species, they can take over the range in pasture lands, they create a monoculture, force out the other vegetation, other animals.
They also can create a fire risk, which they've already gone through and we certainly don't ever want to see that again.
[Mike Straub, Program Host]
Prevention is the most effective and least costly approach to managing invasive plants.
Regularly, scout pastures, range land, and other affected areas for unfamiliar plants.
If you cannot identify a plant, contact your local Nebraska extension educator or county weed control authority for assistance.
[Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping Educator]
So the different methods are to control these, the 2 grasses are very similar to how you would manage cheat grass.
I would recommend that any control measures, contact your county office, talk to your extension educator or weed specialist within that area to see what they would recommend.
You could also contact the manufacturing reps.
Talk with other states, see what they have to say, because they've definitely had these weeds in there, pastures and grasslands, and they know the pretty much the methods to manage them.
[Mike Straub, Program Host]
Once an invasive species is identified, early intervention is critical to preventing establishment and seed production.
Established infestations are more difficult, costly, and time consuming to control.
Effective management may require a combination of approaches.
Select a herbicide label for both the target plant and the application site.
Always read, understand, and follow all product label instructions, including application restrictions and precautions.
The label is the law.
[Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Water & Cropping Educator]
You have to follow the label using any pesticide.
It doesn't matter what it is.
Again, get a get a hold of your local extension office or read specialist.
They can help you ID it, and then find the proper management products to use on it.
[Mike Straub, Program Host]
And early detection and rapid response?
Focusing on identifying potentially evasive plants before they become established, or as soon as they appear, and an integrated pest management plan can help landowners manage, contain, and potentially eradicate these plants before they spread, reducing the need for costly long-term efforts.
For a Nebraska extension almanac, I'm Mike Straub.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of INR media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.
Dividing Farm Assets
Passing the farm on to the next generation takes careful planning, especially when it comes to dividing land, equipment, and other assets. Nebraska Extension Ag Economist Jessica Groskopf discusses how farm families can make tough decisions, treat family members fairly, and keep the operation moving forward for generations to come.
View Transcript
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
One of the most difficult times in a farm operation is when the owners of the farm want to transition the operation to their family, especially when some family members aren't associated with the farm anymore.
Extension agoconomist Jessica Grosskoff talks about the difficult process of dividing assets during a farm transition.
[Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Ag Economist]
When we gift, agriculture assets to non-farming and non-ranching errors.
You are gifting them an obligation.
You are gifting them, property taxes, you are gifting them, uh, more expensive insurance policy.
You are gifting them and often tying them to being basically a business owner.
And if they're looking at that as an investment, not as a sentimental property that they want to keep.
If they look at it as an investment, they're going to look at it and say, my ROI on this property is not high enough, I might as well sell it and put that money into some other form of investment to where I have better cash flow, better return on investment.
And so, often, I don't think families think about the obligation that they're placing on their non-farming and ranching children when they gift them.
Farm and range assets.
And land is the easy one.
At least land appreciates.
Why would you give your kids, all of these things that are depreciated, out or are depreciable for them unless they needed that for some tax purpose, but even then is the benefit of owning that asset and the depreciation you get off of it. Worth having to figure out how to liquidate that asset.
No.
No, it's not.
And so, it again, it comes back into this idea of being realistic.
About what your heirs are actually going to do with the asset, and trying to figure out a way that works for those involved and again, throwing out the idea of equal and fair.
So when you gift a non-farming or non-ranching air farm and ranch assets, It talks about the fact that you give them an obligation.
You also then need to prepare them to be able to manage that obligation.
The number of people who come through our programs at extension.
And I enjoy the programs.
I'm not discounting them.
But the number of people who are just now becoming landowners at 50, 60, 70 years old, who have never managed land, who have never leased property before, who've never marketed grain, is astounding.
And so, you know, they might have inherited that property.
But they had never been brought through the decision making or the business side of being a landowner.
And so to some extent, you're also kind of discounting them as well or setting them back when you do that, because you haven't thought through the process of teaching them to manage that side of the business.
And it is a business.
So if you expect them to retain that land, into the future, you also then need to teach them about what it is to be a good landowner.
And I think, A lot of farmers can tell you about what it's like to have a good landowner and what it's like to have a new landowner.
And I can tell you working with a new landowner can be very, very difficult.
Because either they don't have any expectations at all, or their expectations are way too high in terms of what they want done.
And so, we have to be realistic and help them to understand really what they're inheriting, and that obligation includes becoming a landowner and how to manage that business.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
For the past 2 programs, we've been discussing dividing assets for farm transition.
These programs were a portion of an interview taken from the farmcast podcast offered by UNL Center for Ag Profitability.
To hear the entire program, go to CAP.unl.edu or download from Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
For Nebraska Extension Almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of INR Media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans.
Go to extension.unl.edu.
Molds in Corn Residue
Wet weather has raised concerns about mold and mycotoxins in corn grain and residue, creating potential risks for cattle. Kansas State University Veterinarian and Toxicologist Scott Fritz discusses how producers can scout their fields and work with their veterinarian to make informed decisions about feeding moldy corn and grazing corn residue.
View Transcript
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Nebraska Extension Almanac.
On a recent almanac program, Dr. Scott Fritz, Associate Professor of Toxicology from Kansas State, talks about cattle feeding on moldy corn residue, and some of the risk involved with that practice.
On today's program, he continues this topic as he encourages ranchers to scout their fields and work with their veterinarian to make good decisions about feeding cattle on wet corn residue.
[Dr. Scott Fritz, Kansas State Associate Professor of Toxicology]
Yeah, I think that's, I mean, practical recommendations, that's number one, is 1st walk the field, and I think what I would be looking for is, you know, what do you have out there for drop deers, how much grain is present?
You know, how much grains left over, you know, how many of those are shattered and you've got the, the grain portion itself, that, I think, is the biggest short term effect issue is, you know, grain overload and that acidosis risk certainly exists.
Then I think the next thing you're going to look at is sort of deterioration of that residue and how much of the leaf and husk material is still present, how much of it's just wet and, you know, sort of deteriorating in that way.
And then get an idea of what kind of mold is present, you know, visually.
And, you know, really work.
I think we're eventually going to get to testing and some of that's going to depend.
You know, all of those things you just evaluated.
What is the animal gonna, or how is a specific animal gonna walk through and, you know, kind of graze that material and which of those is going to contribute to the diet in a meaningful way?
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
Dr. Fritz acknowledges sometimes grain gets rejected at the elevator because of the condition of the grain, and farmers may consider feeding it.
He encourages producers to get a baseline test done before feeding.
[Dr. Scott Fritz, Kansas State Associate Professor of Toxicology]
First and foremost, for me, as a toxicologist, I want to have some sort of test perform, and there are mycotoxin testing labs in the country, you know, you take a sample, you submit it.
They'll give you some numbers and then some way to interpret those numbers based on the animal that potentially are going to be exposed to.
And so just getting some baseline information is useful.
I think the challenge is if you've got a semi load full of corn.
How do you sample that in a way that you think is representative?
You know, we already know that these mycotoxins can occur in hot spots, you may have, you know, maybe the back left of the trailer's got a really moldy spot and that's bad and the rest of it's pretty okay.
And if you don't test that specific spot, you'll never be able to characterize that risk really accurately.
So I think getting baseline and then try to find some consideration of ways to, you know, feed other feeds that aren't contaminated in some way.
So I think there's some management things that you can do to get around it.
How to do that is pretty dependent on kind of your baseline contamination level.
And so you may be considering some supplemental feed or maybe considering not leaving animals out there as long, you know, and that's provided we checked off all those other boxes, right?
That there's not a bunch of dropped ears on the ground.
There's not a whole bunch of wasted grain out there that can cause some acute issues, you know, that we were pretty comfortable with feeding the material, but just recognizing that the nutrition is probably not what we expect it to be on a good year.
So I guess a lot of the questions that I'm getting is, A, is it safe, right?
And that's the hardest one to answer.
Tar spot alone. You know, there's nothing out there to suggest that it would be a big problem.
Um, for my cattle health perspective.
It certainly would affect nutritional quality.
Another question I keep getting is how much mold is too much.
There's no way to explain that.
There is no visual cutoff that would say that it's, you know, too much is there.
And it's, I think importantly, those molds don't all produce mycotoxins and they produce them at different rates.
And so the amount of mold doesn't necessarily mean there's a bunch of mycotoxins there.
Uh, it could be a little with a lot of toxin, it could be a lot of mold with no toxin, right?
And there's no way to figure that out just by looking at it.
And then I've got some questions about, you know, are you aware of any issues with cattle getting sick on this material, which we haven't really kind of addressed that topic yet?
But, you know, I think we're pretty early in the harvest season.
So I haven't seen a lot of the baseline testing come in.
I haven't seen a lot of this material, you know, submitted to a lab to get a baseline of kind of what we're dealing with.
I think if we revisited this topic here in 2 or 3 weeks that there would at least be some baseline information out there to, you know, worst case scenario, here's the worst we've seen and maybe have a little bit better way to work through it at that point.
[Brad Mills, Program Host]
For Nebraska extension almanac.
I'm Brad Mills.
Nebraska Extension Almanac is a production of I.E. In our media and Nebraska Extension.
For more information on how your university is serving Nebraskans, go to extension.unl.edu.