Farm Transitions and Estate Planning

About

Our goal is to provide agricultural producers with information on the farm transition and estate planning processes. Both processes can help to insure the farm's continued success.

Successful planning for the future generation to take over the farm or planning for the farm's continued success after your death is an important part of your farm. You want to make sure that the next generation has the skills necessary to continue on the farming operation, the farming operation passes easily to them, you maintain retirement income, and your final wishes are taken care of upon your death. We realize this is not a topic many of you want to deal with, but it is an important one.

Here you will find resources to help you in the transition process and the estate planning process. Resources include those developed by the University of Maryland and resources developed by other universities.

More resources - including guides, worksheets, and presentations. This work was made possible in part by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center. 

  • A generation of women farmers standing in a greenhouse filled with flowers

    Farm Transition Tools

  • Family of women farmers standing in front of tractor with their children sitting on small toy versions of farm tractors

    Farm Estate Planning Resources

  • Sign in field that reads Farmland Forever thanks to this landowner and howard county government this farmland is permanently preserved

    Conservation Easements

Farm Transitions and Estate Planning Brought to You By: 

Beginning Farmer Success is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant #2012-49400-19552. To find more resources and programs for beginning farmers and ranchers please visit the USDA's New Farmer website

The Ag Law Education Initiative is a collaboration between the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School and College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park.  Through the University of Maryland Extension - the statewide, non-formal agriculture education system - the collaboration partners with the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Maryland Crop Insurance Education Program: