News

46 Years: Kansas farmer learning how to pass on his operation to family

A veteran farmer says learning how to transition his farm to the next generation has been a process. “I’m having less trouble with it than I thought I might.”

Kansas grower Bob Haselwood is passing on 1,800 acres of his rented ground and machinery after 46 years in the industry to his nephew-in-law. “First couple of years, he just rented the equipment from me,” Haselwood says. “He still is renting some, but he’s purchased some equipment from me. He’s purchased equipment other places.  It’s a process.”

He tells Brownfield he plans to be less involved in day-to-day operations. “It’s his job and if he’s going to make it, he’s going to make it,” he says. “If he’s not going to make it and not be able to do it when he’s only 3 or 4 years into it instead of 15 years into it.” 

But, Haselwood says he’s always willing to help when needed. “Like during planting planting or when applying fertilizer when he needs help, I try to be around,” he says. “If he’s doing spraying where he can do a lot of it himself, I try to get out of his hair and disappear.”

Bob Haselwood of Topeka: