How do I hand over my seed store’s agronomy advice to a new owner?

Begin with what you actually do. Do you walk fields, recommend varieties, advise on timing, or help with problems? Write down your approach by crop, the questions you ask a farmer first and the sources you trust. Keep a customer file with notes on each farm, the fields, past choices and results. Respect privacy: share it only with the buyer, under an agreement your lawyer prepares.

Then decide who advises. If the new owner is not an agronomist, plan how the store will bring advice in, whether through hiring, a partner or training. Be honest with the buyer about how much of your reputation is personal.

Introduce the buyer in person. Take them on a round of visits in the busy season and let farmers see you vouch for them. Ask your lawyer and accountant how long you can stay on and in what role. Agree on a plan for hard questions after you leave, such as a short call line for a set period. Consider how supplier representatives can support the new owner’s learning, and ask your supplier contacts to meet the buyer early. Tell customers early and directly, in your own words, so they hear it from you and not from a rumour. Ask each key farmer what they most want to stay the same.

Key takeaways

• Write down how you advise, crop by crop.
• Keep customer notes and share them under an agreement.
• Introduce the buyer on farm visits during the busy season.