Land Access & Succession Planning
Key Organizations to Know in Indiana:
Purdue Succession Planning Team
Key Contact: Renee Wiatt (reneewiatt@purdue.edu)
Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition
Key Contact: info@hoosieryfc.org
Key Contact: Anna Sekine (asekine@farmland.org)
Offers ag mediation services
Key Contact: Rosyn M. Amor (rsi.ramor@gmail.com)
Indiana Farmland Community of Practice: This page includes a curated, farmer vetted Resource Library, and recordings/slideshows of presentations with experts working on land access and conservation, all developed with Indiana Farmers in mind.
Land for Good is a rich resource for landowners and landseekers with many workbooks, guides, and information for land access and transfer.
Retirement Budgeting Worksheet: a straightforward and practical tool to help you understand your financial picture and plan for retirement.
Leasing Farmland: a clear, step-by-step lesson that covers different types of leases, how to determine rental rates, and other valuable information, including the pros and cons for short-term versus long-term leasing for more creative options.
Practical Farmers of Iowa- Farm Transfer: Great resource roundup including stories, organizations, services, and presentations
Purdue University Extension
"The Farm's Legacy: A Guidebook for Intra-Family Succession" - This guidebook, developed by Purdue University Extension, draws on years of firsthand experience working with farm families. It features articles and exercises covering essential topics such as goal setting, communication, management transition, estate planning, and asset transfer.
Farmland Access Legal Toolkit: Lots of resources related to leasing and land access tools
Leasing Toolkit - The Farmland Access Legal Toolkit provides a thorough guide to different types of leases, including a "lease-builder" tool, key questions to consider before signing, and valuable insights into state-specific issues.
Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) - Oregon specific, but has resources and success stories that may be inspiring or informative for other locations. Notable features include the Stories from the Field video series and their Guide to Easements
American Farmland Trust (AFT)
"Your Land Is Your Legacy - Estate Planning for Farmers and Ranchers" - This resource from AFT and partners offers an introduction to estate planning while addressing the unique challenges farmers face.
Financial Assets Inventory Worksheet - This worksheet from AFT provides a structured framework for listing and valuing the assets to be transferred or acquired during a farm transition. These assets may include land, buildings, equipment, and other components of the existing farm business.
Protect Your Land - Learn about agricultural conservation easements with this guide from AFT. It also offers insights on how to explore opportunities to collaborate with federal, state, and local entities to prevent development, ensuring your land remains available for future generations of farmers.
Capital Press Farmland Succession Story Series: Their Changing Hands story series offers insight into the land transfer process in action.
Land Linking Program
Heartland FarmLink - This program, provided by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), connects farmers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia with landowners seeking to lease or make their land available for farming. There are limited connections listed for Indiana at this time, but there’s a lot of potential for it to grow.
Updated April 7, 2025