Christmas offers us all an opportunity to plan our next steps

Between the turkey and the mince pies, when three generations sit together in the warmth of the farmhouse, lies the perfect opportunity to talk about something vital: the future of your farm and your own development as a grower.

The quiet days between Christmas and new year, when the farm ticks over at a gentler pace, offer a rare gift of time. Time to think, to plan and to have those important conversations which too often get pushed aside during lambing season, harvest, or the endless cycle of daily tasks that keep a farm running.

Why succession planning can’t wait

For many English farms, succession planning remains the elephant in the room at family gatherings. Perhaps it feels too early, too morbid, or simply too complicated to address. 

This Christmas, while everyone’s together, is the time to start that conversation. It doesn’t need to be formal or final – think of it as planting seeds for future discussions. Who’s genuinely interested in continuing the farm? What are their ambitions for it? How might different family members contribute or benefit? What training or experience do potential successors need?

Recent news that the Government will increase the Inheritance Tax threshold to £2.5 million is clearly good news for many farmers and growers – and while it might prove a good starting point for conversations around succession, it is important to remember that this change doesn't invalidate the need for a clear succession plan for businesses.

There’s far more to effective succession planning than simply avoiding the punitive effects of Inheritance Tax. Committing to conversations with your family and taking a course on succession planning – such as our Essential Skills: Succession Planning online course – can help your business plan effectively to avoid fragmentation, forced sales and potential bitter disputes later down the line.

These family conversations work best when they’re ongoing, not one-off events. Starting them during the holidays, when spirits are good and time is available, sets a positive foundation. You’re not just planning for someone’s retirement or death; you’re planning for the farm’s next chapter of growth and success.

Investing in yourself: The power of CPD

Online training, like our Succession Planning course, can be a key part of upskilling yourself as part of your own journey of lifelong learning.

Because it doesn’t matter whether you’re planning the transition of management of a business, developing your own nutrient management plan, upskilling yourself on recruitment best practice or reviewing your farm’s biosecurity measures, it’s your knowledge and skills which will define your successes. 

Continuing professional development – also known as CPD – offers you a way to stay ahead of changes in legislation and get sight of new opportunities, allowing you to adapt and forge your own profitable future. 

The new year stretches ahead with possibilities. What could you learn that would make your operation more efficient, more profitable, or more sustainable? Perhaps it’s finally getting to grips with precision agriculture technology, understanding regenerative farming practices, or improving your business management skills. 

The beauty of planning your CPD over the Christmas period is you can approach it with fresh eyes and renewed motivation. You’ve got time to honestly assess where your knowledge gaps lie and what would genuinely benefit your business. You’re not making snap decisions in the middle of a crisis or signing up for courses because everyone else is.

Making CPD work for real farmers

Let’s be practical. You can’t disappear for weeks of training during your busiest seasons. That’s why planning matters. Look at the agricultural calendar and identify quieter periods when you could attend courses or workshops. Consider online learning that you can fit around farm work. 

Think broadly about what counts as CPD. Yes, formal courses matter, but so do discussion groups with other farmers, farm walks, agricultural shows where you’re genuinely learning rather than just socialising, and even structured reading of farming publications. The key is being intentional about learning rather than just accumulating experiences.

Set specific, achievable goals. Rather than vaguely promising to ‘learn more about soil health,’ commit to attending two specific workshops and conducting soil tests on three fields. Instead of ‘getting better at business management,’ sign up for a farm business planning course before March.

Starting the conversation this Christmas

As you sit with your family this Christmas, surrounded by the people who matter most, remember that planning – both for succession and for your own development – is an act of care. You’re caring for the farm’s future, for your family’s wellbeing, and for your own growth as a farmer.

You don’t need to solve everything over the Christmas pudding. But you can start. You can open the conversation about succession. You can commit to one or two areas of professional development for the coming year. You can set aside time in January to begin formalising these plans.

The new year will bring its challenges, as every year does for farmers and growers. But with clear plans for both succession and your own development, you’ll face those challenges better equipped – and with the confidence that comes from knowing your farm has a secure and thriving future ahead.