Books:

• “Passing It On: An Estate Planning Resource Guide for Wyoming's Farmers and Ranchers” is a 130-page handbook designed to help agricultural producers think about estate planning and start the conversation with their families. Available online at: http://ces.uwyo.edu/PASSINGITON.asp

• “Managing the Multi-Generational Farm” is available from the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. It also includes an “Interactive Farm Transfer Tool” CD designed to help users prepare to transfer their farm business. Purchase the book at: http://farmcentre.com/english/products/product_master.htm?id=20

Web sites:

• American Bar Association (ABA) Web site offers information on finding and using an estate-planning attorney and answers most common questions about the estate-planning process. www.abanet.org/rppt/public/home.html

• Internal Revenue Service, the most up-to-date information on taxes. Click on “Businesses” to learn more about estate and gift taxes. www.irs.gov/

• National Farm Transition Network provides ideas to help foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers. www.farmtransition.org/

• Financial Planning Association — importance of estate planning, planning for taxes, wills, gifts and inheritances, and powers of attorney. www.fpanet.org/public/tools/lifeevents/estate.html

• National Agricultural Law Center reading room is devoted to in-depth information about estate planning and taxation. www.nationalaglawcenter.org/readingrooms/estateplanning/

• Farm Household Economics and Well-Being addresses issues dealing with financial well-being of farm households. “How Do U.S. Farmers Plan for Retirement” deals specifically with retirement and succession. www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/WellBeing/

• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel provides a list of useful legal information such as state-by-state implications. www.actec.org/public/ShowPublicLinks.asp

• Ag Decision Maker from Iowa State University. Click on “Transfer” under the heading “Whole Farm” on the left column to access resources on “Getting started,” “Business arrangements,” “Making it work,” and “Transferring machinery and livestock.” www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/

• Iowa Beginning Farmer Center, developed by Iowa State University Extension, has several programs for people exiting the business, family transition, and first-time farmers. The “On-Line Publications” section features articles on transitioning the farm. www.extension.iastate.edu/bfc/

• Estate Planning Links, developed by the University of Missouri, offers 43 links to various estate-planning issues. www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/SMatthews/estateplanning.htm

• Estate Planning Publications offers peer-reviewed articles developed by Montana State University Extension family specialist Marsha A. Goetting. www.montana.edu/extensionecon/estateplanningpublications.html

• Retirement and Estate Planning for Farm Families discusses the importance of retirement planning; developed by Kentucky State and Purdue universities, Risk Management Agency and USDA. www.ces.purdue.edu/farmriskmgt/

• Getting Ready For Estate Planning is a site developed by Purdue University and features six steps to consider in the estate-planning process. www.ces.purdue.edu/estateplanning/

• Planning for a Secure Retirement is designed for both the self-employed and those with employer-sponsored retirement plans; it also takes participants through 10 important questions when planning for retirement. www2.ces.purdue.edu/retirement/

• A Retirement Estimator for Farm Families helps farm families identify how expenses might change in retirement and gauge needed income. www.ces.purdue.edu/farmretirement/

• Financial Security in Later Life features various publications by USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. “Tools for Consumers” offers tips for financial security for you and your family. www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/economics/fsll/fsll.html

• Life Advice About Estate Planning, from the Federal Citizen Information Center, takes you through the process of estate planning from inventorying assets, talking with family and making a will or establishing a trust. www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/estateplan/planning.htm

• Western Risk Management Library Web site features a compilation of fact sheets and papers on estate planning, succession and risk management from various universities. http://agecon.uwyo.edu/riskmgt/financialrisk/FINANCIALEstatePlanning.htm