The Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE) has released results from its 2025-2026 Minnesota Farm Transition Survey, highlighting a growing need for practical farm succession planning resources and support for producers across the state.
The survey gathered responses from more than 75 producers representing 29 counties across southern and central Minnesota. Findings show that while more than 90 percent of respondents intend to transfer their farm operations to the next generation or another successor, many are still early in the planning process or have not yet started.
Among those planning to transition their farms, 70 percent hope to begin within the next seven years, signaling a significant wave of ownership and management transitions approaching Minnesota agriculture.
“Our survey shows that Minnesota farmers are acutely aware that transition is coming. Over 90 percent plan to transfer their operations, many within the next three to seven years, yet a significant number are still early in the process or unsure where to begin,” said Tina LeBrun, Executive Director of SACE. “With contributing factors such as family dynamics, financial complexity and uncertainty about successors all playing a role, it’s clear that producers need more than awareness. They need practical, trusted support to turn intention into action and ensure the future of their farms.”
Survey respondents identified family dynamics, capital gains tax concerns, long-term health care planning, and uncertainty about how to begin the process as some of the top barriers preventing farm transitions from moving forward.
The survey also revealed that:
- Nearly one-quarter of respondents do not yet know who will manage or own their farm in the future.
- While some producers have begun planning, many are still at an early stage or report getting stuck as they work through the process.
Producers are seeking more hands-on support, including workshops, planning retreats, access to legal and tax professionals, and guidance on trusts, LLCs, land ownership structures, and balancing fairness among heirs.
The findings reinforce the growing importance of coordinated farm transition support services in Minnesota as aging producers prepare for retirement (the average Minnesota farmer is in their late 50s) and the next generation considers entering agriculture.
SACE continues to expand its farm transition programming and resources to help farm families navigate these complex decisions. Resources available through the organization include educational workshops, planning retreats, one-on-one farm consulting and connections to professional expertise. Find more information, including the full survey report, and farm transition resources at https://centerofagriculture.org/farm-transition/.
The organization hopes the survey results will help inform future partnerships, programming, and policy discussions focused on strengthening the long-term sustainability of Minnesota agriculture and supporting successful farm ownership transitions.
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