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Can the Farm Survive after I’m Gone? The Solution to Succession

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:37:08 GMT

Can the Farm Survive after I’m Gone? The Solution to Succession

When it comes to planning for the next generation on the farm or ranch, rural families across the nation are facing more challenges than ever.

Approximately seventy percent (70%) of farms and ranches won’t pass successfully to the next generation. While numerous obstacles stand in the way of effective transfer between generations, the largest obstacle is failure to plan because farmers and ranchers often struggle with the difficult decisions required to ensure the longevity of their operations.

In agriculture, despite being constantly pondered, estate and succession plans are sparsely discussed and rarely implemented. The failure to plan is rooted in a variety of factors. Agricultural operations present unique complexities because the family farm, in reality, is often a web of the business interests, operational concerns, assets, liabilities, responsibilities, and family relationships and expectations.

The Business

At its core, the family farm is a business. In agriculture, a traditional business model typically consists of two circles: the business circle and the ownership circle. The business circle includes the individuals who provide the labor and management necessary to operate the ranch on a day-to-day basis.

The ownership circle, on the other hand, represents those who legally own the assets that allow the business to function, such as land, livestock, equipment, and property.

Family ranches often introduce a third element into this model: family membership. In these operations, ownership is not always determined solely by participation in the business. Instead, the family must decide how family status affects the opportunity to own part of the operation.

More and more, one individual is staying on the “home place” to run the family farm or ranch, while the rest of the family moves to town to pursue “off-farm” careers.

The Right to Own

Should I leave the family farm to all of my children equally? This question lies at the heart of succession planning for many farms and ranches. Founders or current owners must decide what criteria determine whether their children/partners/spouses have a “right” to own the operation based on their familial relationship alone. For example, if a child is not currently involved in the ranch’s daily operations, should that child still have the opportunity to become an owner simply by virtue of being part of the family?

These decisions force families to consider whether ownership is viewed as an entitlement tied to family status or as an opportunity earned through labor, commitment, and investment in the business. Some families believe every child should share ownership regardless of involvement, while others require participation in the operation before granting an ownership interest.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but recognizing these distinctions early can help families structure a succession plan that balances fairness, family relationships, and the long-term viability of the ranch. Careful planning and open communication can help ensure the operation continues successfully for generations to come.

Planning for Succession

Farm families spend their days doing the work they love–raising crops, working cattle, and building something meaningful for the next generation. But too often, succession planning gets pushed aside because it feels uncomfortable, complicated, or less urgent than the daily demands of the operation. The reality is that too much is at stake to leave the future of the farm to chance. Most farms do not fail in transition because of taxes alone; they fail because there was no clear plan, no communication, and no alignment about what comes next. If you want your operation to remain productive, profitable, and in the family for generations to come, the time to start planning is now, not when a crisis forces the issue.

Sources:

Wilson, Mike. “Why Farms with No Transition Plan Often Fail.” Www.farmprogress.com, 20 Nov. 2023, www.farmprogress.com/farm-futures-business-summit/why-farms-with-no-transition-plan-often-fail.

Tucker, Wesley. “Love vs. Legacy: Why Succession Planning Stalls on Family Farms.” Farm Progress, 23 Feb. 2026, www.farmprogress.com/farm-business-planning/love-vs-legacy-why-succession-planning-stalls-on-family-farms?utm_rid=CPG02000193034863&utm_campaign=105355&utm_medium=email&elq2=0e360987ccfc476fb6f157aa16f0a900&sp_eh=c3e2d8144d1a75849e5810f5a99d192625ff8916a934f926f9b862344210d571. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

What is the Farm, Food and Security Act of 2026?

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:31:36 GMT

What is the Farm, Food and Security Act of 2026?

The first Farm Bill was a product of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. In 1933, Congress passed the first Farm Bill, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in response to the economic devastation. Since then, Congress has typically reauthorized the Farm Bill approximately every five years to provide farmers and ranchers with consistent federal support that adapts to changing agricultural and economic conditions.

What does it do?

The Farm Bill primarily establishes programs that provide financial assistance, risk management tools, and price support systems for agricultural producers. The legislation is organized into twelve separate titles, each addressing a different area of agricultural policy. Committees in the House and Senate evaluate current market conditions, production practices, and economic trends when drafting these provisions to ensure the programs remain effective and sustainable for farmers and ranchers.

The twelve titles are:

Commodities

Conservation

Trade

Nutrition

Credit

Rural Development

Research, Extension and Related Matters

Forestry

Energy

Horticulture

Crop Insurance

Miscellaneous

The Farm Bill Today

The most recent comprehensive Farm Bill was passed in 2018, which meant Congress was expected to reauthorize the legislation in 2023. However, Congress was unable to pass a new Farm Bill before the deadline.

In July 2025, the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture incorporated several Farm Bill-related funding provisions into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, informally referred to by some as the “skinny Farm Bill.” While this measure addressed certain funding priorities, it did not replace a full reauthorization of the Farm Bill, leaving significant policy work to be completed.

Food, Farm and Security Act of 2026

Most recently, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture advanced a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the remaining Farm Bill-related issues. In drafting the legislation, the Committee sought to balance priorities from both sides of the aisle while responding to several of the most pressing challenges facing modern agriculture.

Among other provisions, the bill addresses the impact of California’s Proposition 12 on interstate pork production. The proposed legislation would effectively nullify the state law’s application to out-of-state producers, allowing farmers and ranchers greater freedom in determining their production practices without being subject to the regulatory standards of another state.

While the bill attempts to address a number of significant agricultural concerns, it still faces a lengthy legislative process before becoming law.

Next Steps

As of April 30th, 2026, the FFSA has passed on the House floor, and at the same time, the Senate Committee on Agriculture is expected to introduce and mark up its own version of the Farm Bill. If both chambers pass their respective bills, lawmakers will then enter the conference process to reconcile the differences and agree on a final version of the legislation. That unified bill would then be sent to the President for signature into law.

For the agricultural industry, the financial adjustments included in the committee’s proposal are particularly important, as many farmers and ranchers are facing increased input costs, market uncertainty, and ongoing economic pressure.

Sources:

“House Farm Bill Advances with Bipartisan Support, 34-17 Vote.” Farm Progress, 5 Mar. 2026, www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/house-farm-bill-advances-with-bipartisan-support-34-17-vote?utm_rid=CPG02000193034863&utm_campaign=105688&utm_medium=email&elq2=c58d6a9a3c3b4722b4dc3148b53ff45f&sp_eh=c3e2d8144d1a75849e5810f5a99d192625ff8916a934f926f9b862344210d571. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

USDA. “Farm Bill.” Usda.gov, 11 Dec. 2024, www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/farm-bill.