High grain prices, though great for most farmers, can make it a challenge for a younger farmer looking to get into the business. That's the observation of one Farm Business Talk member. "I want to farm for a living, but how can a young farmer get started with prices so high?" he asks.

What piece of farm machinery pays for itself the quickest? How much of your farm's grain marketing do you do? What do input costs and today's tight financial conditions mean to your farm? These are just a few of the topics young and beginning farmers are discussing in the Farmers for the Future social network. Join or start a discussion today to share ideas about today's industry of agriculture.

Ryan and Hope Pjesky, the Goltry, Oklahoma, face the same challenges as other young farmers. But, they face a different market environment than when Ryan's father, Roger, began farming 40 years ago. Here's what they say about some questions young farmers ask these days.

Ted and Melissa Miller of Ickesburg, Pennsylvania, are a rarity in farming. They started on their own. With a $10,000 down payment, they bought their 112-acre farm in 2000. Nearly five years later, their family has grown. They're milking more cows. And they've added a full-time employee to the operation.

Sign up for the Farmers for the Future monthly e-mail newsletter, full of tips and information for new farmers. It's free for Agriculture Online members. Membership is also free.

"What's your advice for beginning farmers?" writes Successful Farming Editor-in-Chief Loren Kruse. "Attendees at the Farmers for the Future Conference in St. Louis last February harvested a bumper crop of ideas to take home and put to work. Here are just 10 of the broader themes I took away from the meeting."

Successfully transferring a farm from the older to younger generation begins with a clear vision of the future and an understanding of each other's values, says John Baker, administrator of Iowa State University's Beginning Farmer Center. He shares 12 steps to a successful succession.

Semi-retired farmer and market analyst Roy Smith reflects on his early years as a farmer. Over the years, he and his wife met with the need for sacrifice, off-farm income and a break or two. What he learned still carries a message for young and beginning farmers.

Veteran farmer Brent Olson recently shared a few lessons he's paid to learn.

Ensuring the financial well-being of your parents can be a tough job, but as your parents (and you!) age, it becomes increasingly important to broach the difficult subject of financial planning. In order to plan your own finances efficiently, you need to know about your parents' estate and its disposition. Learn which are the most important matters to discuss with your parents, and get some tips for making the conversation a little easier.

The Farm Credit System Foundation, Inc., is proud to sponsor Farmers for the Future, which provides young and beginning farmers with resources to help them succeed.