Farm Transfer

There is a tremendous farmland transition about to take place. Fifty-six percent of Iowa farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, according to Iowa State University. Thirty percent of Iowa farmland is owned by those older than 75 years of age.

Farm Transfer Infograph

Farmers who rent land are in a precarious position: When their landlords die, many heirs will want to cash out quickly, leaving farmers struggling or unable to find the financing to purchase land. The situation is equally severe for those who farm with their families. Many farmer landowners plan to divide their land equally among offspring. Their farming offspring may not be able to buy out the other heirs, who may want to sell the farmland to cash in on their inheritance. And these challenges pertain only to the farmland itself. Transferring the farm business can also involve a difficult dance of giving responsibility to the younger generation while the older generation learns to let go. Practical Farmers is here to share stories and resources about the great farm transition that is currently underway.

Farmers Share with Farmers

Practical Farmers’ niche is farmers teaching other farmers. Many farm families are willing to share their farm business and farmland transfer stories. See the profiles below for those stories.

Farm Transfer Stories

Frantzen: Set Goals First

James Frantzen Responds to His Parents’ Decision
to Bequest Their Land to PFI

Wilson: Farming and Non-Farming Offspring

Lynch: Help Son Build Equity

Dunphy: Retire and Get Out of the Way

Tale of Three Sons: Equal May Not be Fair

Nimrod: Honor Community, Sell the Farm

Shivvers: Choose Tenants with Your Values

Gunderson: Beginning Farmer Tax Credit and More

Younger Generation: Farm Transfer Questions for Your Elders

Worksheet #1 — Dynamics and Communications Styles

Worksheet #2 — Elders

Worksheet #3 — Younger Generation

Map of my Kingdom

"Map of my Kingdom"

Practical Farmers commissioned playwright Mary Swander to write this play about the many issues surrounding farmland transfer. The play presents a number of ways farmland owners have planned for – or failed to plan for – farmland transition. See EVENTS for the latest performances.

To bring the play to a location near you, contact: Mary Swander.

Farm Legacy Letters

Too often, farmland owners have not decided and then communicated what they want most for their farmland when they are gone. Over the next several years, Practical Farmers will be helping

Twyla Hall

Darrell Mohr

Chris Mohr

Write Your Own Farm Legacy Letter

PFI Top Farmland Goals

Farmland Owner Award

The goals of the award are:

To recognize those PFI farmland owner members who work to sustain farm businesses, long-term soil productivity, environmental quality and vibrant rural communities, including helping the next generation start farming.
To call attention to the need for greater landowner partnerships with farmers. Any non-operator landowner – which is someone who owns land but does not labor on that land – is eligible.

Winners: