The Concerns of Young Farmers About the Future and Farm Transition

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

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The Concerns of Young Farmers About the Future and Farm Transition

In this week’s episode, Tracy is rounding out her series of solo episodes reflecting on and weaving together the insights shared by so many incredible voices in agriculture.

With so many great conversations, Tracy wanted to take a moment to pause, gather the main points and pull them together in several easy to consume episodes for the audience.

After hosting a wide range of thoughtful guest conversations, she’s hitting pause to highlight the key takeaways—bringing them together in a few focused, easy-to-digest episodes designed just for you.

Young farmers today are navigating a complex landscape, and when it comes to succession and transition planning, they have a mix of practical, emotional, and economic concerns. Here are some of the big ones on their minds:

1. Uncertainty Around Ownership & Decision-Making Power
• “Will I actually own the farm one day, or just work on it?”
• Many young farmers are unsure if/when they’ll gain ownership or leadership roles, especially if the older generation is reluctant to hand over control.

2. Lack of Clear Transition Plans
• “There’s no written plan. What happens if something unexpected happens?”
• Farms often rely on handshake deals or verbal understandings, which leaves successors vulnerable in the case of illness, death, or family disputes.

3. Financial Viability & Debt
• “Can I afford to take this on?”
• Even if they inherit land, many young farmers face massive barriers like land prices, startup costs, equipment, or buying out siblings. Some inherit debt too.

4. Generational Differences in Vision
• “I want to innovate, but my parents don’t want to change how things are done.”
• Tension between traditional vs. regenerative/tech-forward methods is common. Younger farmers may want to diversify or pursue sustainability, while older ones are cautious.

5. Off-Farm Heirs & Family Dynamics
• “How do you divide a farm fairly when only one child wants to farm?”
• Navigating fairness between farming and non-farming siblings is a big issue, especially if the land is the parents' main asset.

6. Legal and Tax Complexities
• “We haven’t talked to a lawyer or accountant. What are the tax implications?”
• Succession often involves tricky legal/tax planning (e.g. capital gains, estate taxes), and many families don’t address it until it’s urgent.

7. Access to Land for First-Generation Farmers
• For those not inheriting a farm, access to land and capital is a huge barrier. They worry about being priced out of ownership entirely.

8. Emotional Tension and Communication Gaps
• “It’s hard to even bring this up without a fight.”
• Succession talks can get emotional, with guilt, pride, fear, or grief tangled in—especially when a retiring farmer isn’t ready to “let go.”

What Young Farmers Are Asking For:
• Open, early, and honest family conversations
• Professional help (lawyers, mediators, ag business consultants)
• Education on farm transition planning, finances, and negotiation
• Opportunities to gradually take on responsibility, rather than waiting for a sudden handoff
• Support networks, like young farmer coalitions, mentorship, or local succession planning programs

If you’re ready to start your farm transition planning, don’t miss this valuable episode!


Would you like more resources to help you on your transition planning journey? If so, don’t forget to download our new FREE Transition Planning Resource Guide ebook. Link below.

Tracy’s Previous Transition Episodes:

Episode #1: Agricultural Transition Planning: Farm Founder's Biggest Challenges (How to Avoid Them): https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=544

Episode #2: TOP 10 Farm Transition Planning Mistakes with Tracy Brunet: https://www.farmmarketer.com/Resources/ResourceItem?resourceItemId=546

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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:



FREE RESOURCE: Transition Planning Books & Resources Ebook – available for download now!
https://www.farmmarketer.com/impact_farming_show/free_resources


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* Disclaimer - As always, this information is not intended to provide business or medical advice. To ensure that your own circumstances have been properly considered and that action is taken based on the latest information available, you should obtain professional advice from qualified business or medical professionals before acting on any of the information in this post.
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The Impact Farming Show

Welcome to Impact Farming, Farm Marketer's video and audio show dedicated to helping Canadian farmers excel in the business of farming. Our goal with this show is to introduce our audience to the people and ideas that are going to make an IMPACT on their farming operation. 

Show Host - Tracy Brunet
CEO of Farm Marketer 

Tracy and her husband are cattle ranchers in South East, Manitoba. As host of the show, primary producer and agvocate, Tracy is passionate about helping farmers succeed in the business of farming. 

In each episode, Tracy chats with today's most successful farm advisors and industry leaders to bring our audience the best and most important ideas. 

Connect with Tracy Brunet - Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Linked in

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