Passing the torch: Farm succession strategies for Ohio’s next generation

LONDON, Ohio — As Ohio’s farming population ages, the most vital upcoming harvest for many families might not be corn or soybeans — it might be the successful transfer of the farm to the next generation.

According to the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, the average age of U.S. farm producers has risen to 58.1 years, up 0.6 years since 2017. Ohio’s median operator age was 55.8 years in 2017 and has continued to climb to 56.3 in 2022, underscoring a pressing need for farm succession planning.

Without it, experts warn, the state risks losing not just family legacies, but the farmland and economic productivity that sustain rural communities.

“At the heart of succession planning is trust and clear communication,” said David Marrison, Ohio State University Extension field specialist in farm management. “We guide families through establishing a shared vision, building next-generation leadership, and avoiding surprises that can derail the process.” OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

CFAES is taking this challenge head-on at this year’s Farm Science Review, dedicating multiple sessions to helping farm families navigate the complex legal, financial and emotional aspects of passing on the farm.

The 63rd FSR, hosted by CFAES, will be Sept. 16-18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, located about 2 miles north of London at the intersection of U.S. Route 40 and state Route 38. It will feature more than 4,000 product lines and over 180 educational sessions led by CFAES researchers and OSU Extension experts.

Programs such as Stepping Up or Stepping Aside: Readiness for Farm Succession and Using Incentive Trusts in Farm Succession: Cultivating Good Decisions will offer actionable, step-by-step strategies from CFAES experts. Both sessions will be Sept. 18 from 10-10:30 a.m. and 11-11:30 a.m., respectively, at the Ask the Expert stage at FSR.

“It’s more than legal tools; it’s about preparing families emotionally, too,” said Peggy Hall, CFAES agricultural law specialist. “We talk honestly about tough conversations: roles, responsibilities, expectations. Without those discussions, the best legal plan can still fail.”

If farms are transferred without clear planning, land can become fragmented or converted to nonfarm uses — outcomes that can erode the state’s agricultural capacity, reduce economic output and weaken Ohio’s food system.

To help prevent that, CFAES and OSU Extension offer year-round workshops, one-on-one consultations and online resources, including the FARMS (Farm Asset and Resource Management Spreadsheet) tool, designed to help farm families structure successful transitions.

“Succession isn’t a single event; it’s a journey,” Marrison said. “The earlier families start, the more likely they’ll preserve what matters most.”

FSR runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-17 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. Advance tickets are $10 online, at participating OSU Extension offices and select agribusinesses, or $15 at the gate. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

For tickets and more information, visit fsr.osu.edu.