THINGS have been bubbling along well at the McNabb family property, Ben Nevis.

Most of the lambing avoided the really rough weather, crops have been grown only in the better high-performing, well-drained paddocks and paddock feed is in ample supply.

Sheep and cattle are looking well and the property is set up for a good spring.

Paddock access is limited because of boggy patches.

Harry and Sally have been able to get away for a few days and have the discussion they needed to have about the long-term future of the farm.

The McNabb business is about as complicated as it can be.

Harry and Sally are in a farming partnership with Harry's parents Ted and Midge. Ted is supposed to be a silent partner but is anything but silent.

The land on which the partnership farms is owned mostly by Ted but Harry bought one paddock before he was married and he and Sally have bought a large block.

All of the land is farmed as one and there are no lease or rental agreements in place between Ted or Harry or Sally and the farming partnership.

Harry and Sally think they know what is in Ted's will but they also know that both Harry's brother, Norm, and sister, Jill, have some expectations, both from Ted's estate and for their children to be involved in the farm in future.

Every time Harry has raised succession and estate planning, Ted finds an excuse to escape.

Midge says, "I leave it up to your father", and the only person who is vocal on the subject is Norm, who reckons he has already had a rough deal.

Harry and Sally decide to formulate a plan whereby they can start an intelligent conversation with Ted on the whole issue of succession, including transitional management and eventual ownership.

The starting point is for all family members to get the opportunity to express their needs, aspirations and expectations about the way the farm is managed and its eventual ownership.

They decide as a second step to start collecting facts and figures and clearly documenting who owns what and getting an approximation of values.

Although Harry has been managing the farm for many years and Sally has been helping with the books, they don't have a complete picture of the assets and liabilities.

From a farm management point of view, succession was supposed to have taken place when Ted retired. But he still makes his presence felt and in some ways Harry still feels that he is not really the manager.

Ted thinks the succession issue was settled when he reviewed his will but he is completely out of touch. The challenge is to get Ted to be part of the discussions.