Building Resilience Today Strengthens the Farms of Tomorrow
ADM's Farm Forward Initiative and American Farmland Trust Help Families Navigate Farm Succession Planning
For many farm families, succession planning can be difficult to prioritize until a transition is on the horizon. While succession and transition planning might feel like a distant concern, starting those conversations early gives families more time to explore their options and discuss decisions about their land, business and legacy. To build a resilient future for the next generation, a thoughtful planning process is built on education, trusted relationships and access to the right resources.
As part of its Farm Forward Initiative, ADM has made a long-term commitment to work alongside farmers and strengthen resilience in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape. The initiative brings together ADM’s existing and new investments, partnerships and on-the-ground engagement into a unified platform designed to address today’s pressures while creating opportunities for the future.
A key part of that work is ADM's partnership with American Farmland Trust (AFT). Through a $500,000 ADM Cares investment, the organizations are engaging farmers across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri with technical assistance for succession planning, connections to production resources and peer networks, and grant funding supporting productivity, market access and farmer well-being. This comes at a time when every day, 2,000 acres of farmland are lost to non-agricultural uses, while one-third of America’s farmland may change hands in the next 15 years as aging landowners sell their properties, according to reports by AFT.
"The partnership between ADM and AFT reflects a shared belief: strong farms depend on strong families, strong communities and strong resources to plan for the future," said Gary McGuigan, Senior Vice President and President, North America Ag Services & Oilseeds and Global Trade, ADM. "ADM's close connection with farmers gives us a firsthand understanding of their businesses, families and intentions for the future. By combining ADM's commitment to farmer resilience with AFT's experience supporting farm viability, land stewardship and farm families, the partnership helps put practical resources directly in farmers' hands."
Planning for the next generation
Farm succession is one of the most important, and often most difficult, decisions a farm family can face. Starting the planning process early with open conversations often alleviates stress, while facilitating future decision-making.
"A transition often brings up deeply personal questions, as much as financial and legal ones," said Angie Doucette, Midwest Senior Farmland Manager, AFT. "Families may need to navigate different goals, relationships, values and expectations while determining how a farm can remain productive and meaningful for future generations."
AFT's Succession Cafés are specifically designed to help make that process feel more approachable. The gatherings (both in-person and virtual) create a support community where farmers and landowners can learn about succession planning, share experiences, connect with others navigating similar questions and identify practical next steps. Sessions bring together content experts, peer farmers and participants to explore topics ranging from succession planning basics and agricultural conservation easements to lease agreements, communication strategies and success stories.
"Most farmers' retirement is under their feet. They're walking on it," said Michael Loudon, an AFT Succession Café guest speaker.
The conversations are intentionally both practical and personal. Participants discuss where they are in their planning process, where they may feel stuck and where they have found success, while recognizing that every family approaches the process differently. They can share resources, ask questions and learn from farmers who have faced similar challenges. The program also establishes clear expectations for respectful dialogue, recognizing that succession planning can bring difficult or emotional conversations to the surface.
Starting the conversation can make all the difference
A recent AFT story illustrates why support matters and what it can look like in practice. Following the loss of a parent, one Midwestern family began proactively discussing the future of their farm. Although the siblings live across the country and their surviving parent remains the landowner, they recognized the value of starting conversations about the farm's future now.
With support from AFT's Land Transfer Navigators, the family began having more open conversations, exploring and understanding potential options and identifying next steps that make sense for their farm and family. As one family member shared, AFT's guidance helped them navigate the complexities of relationships, opportunities, policies and decision-making surrounding the farm's future.
As the family plans the future of their multi-county property, which features a historic farmhouse, woodlands, wetlands and riverfront, they are reflecting on cherished childhood memories while balancing conservation with potential sale options. To protect the land from development and preserve it for farming in perpetuity, the siblings are exploring tools like agricultural conservation easements to lay the groundwork for a thoughtful transition.
Their experience reinforces that succession planning does not have to mean having all the answers today, nor does it need to wait until a transition is imminent. It can begin with a conversation, and starting early creates space for families to explore possibilities, align around shared values and make decisions with greater confidence.
"Farm transitions may be emotional and technical, but with the right support, they can also be a pathway to opportunity for today’s farmers, the next generation and the communities that depend on thriving farms," said McGuigan. "For ADM and AFT, strengthening resilience means helping farmers prepare for change, equipping families with resources and trusted support and creating opportunities for farms to remain productive, profitable and sustainable."
When farmers can move forward with confidence, the benefits extend far beyond an individual farm to strengthen families, rural communities and the broader food system. Securing this future relies on giving the next generation the knowledge and resources needed now to keep growing their legacy.
Learn more about how ADM is supporting farmers and local communities here.