Ohio farm scene
Tim Hicks
Tim Hicks, Nationwide field services director for Ohio Farm Bureau

Half the farmland in the U.S. is owned by individuals who are at least 65 years old, and many families don’t have a farm transition plan in place – or even know where to start.

Ohio Farm Bureau has information on programs and tips on how to start the farm succession conversation, as do several of the organization’s partners. Our legal team can point members in the right direction.

Land As Your Legacy

As Ohio Farm Bureau’s Heritage Partner, Nationwide helps protect the financial security of farms, families and futures with its Land As Your Legacy transition plan program.

The Land As Your Legacy team partners with a farm family’s team of financial, legal and tax professionals to help map out a plan for future generations. At no cost, Nationwide will develop a transition plan focused on helping protect the future for the business and the family.

Nationwide’s team of legal and tax professionals can help ensure the successful transition of a family business from one generation to the next and preserve the legacy that’s been built. 

Ohio Farm Resolution Services

If it was as simple as everyone with a vested interest in the family farm coming together to plan the next steps for its future, everyone would do it. Often, it’s not that simple.

With over 76,000 farms and 13 million acres of diverse farmland in Ohio, conflicts commonly arise that can lead to disputes within families and can cause harmful effects that threaten the viability of Ohio agriculture.

The goal of Ohio Farm Resolution Services at The Ohio State University is to cultivate solutions to the conflicts that impact Ohio’s farms and farm families.

Established in October 2023 with funding from the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Certified Mediation Program, the program serves Ohio agriculture with a three-pronged approach to helping resolve farm conflicts that includes educational resources on Ohio farm conflict issues, conflict resolution and consultation services by OSU Extension legal and farm management specialists, and formal mediation services by trained mediators. 

KEY POINTS

  • More than half of the nation’s farmland is owned by those 65 or older.
  • Farm transition planning is essential to the future of a farm and the industry.
  • Farm families have resources to help them establish transition plans.

WHAT’S NEXT
While the transfer of assets is often talked about when it comes to creating a succession plan, the transfer of knowledge is equally as important. A recent Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast featured experts from Wright and Moore who shared tips on successful succession plans and the timing for moving assets to the next generation. 

To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
Ryanna Tietje's avatar
Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman's avatar
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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