Passing the Land Forward in Idaho
Agricultural producers and advisors are working together to navigate generational farm transitions.
Across Idaho, farm and ranch families are thinking about how their land will transition to the next generation. David Anderson, American Farmland Trust’s Idaho Senior Program Manager, works to support them. Through the Land Transfer Navigators project, he connects people with advisors, tools, and resources to navigate succession planning, one of the most complicated decisions an agricultural family will face.
In this conversation with AFT’s Brooks Lamb, David discusses why succession planning matters, and he describes how professionals are working together to support farm and ranch families. This work helps to ensure agriculture remains part of Idaho’s landscape for generations to come.
Agricultural Succession Planning – Understanding the Numbers
Brooks: I’m excited to discuss succession planning with you, David. I hear this is a major issue in Idaho. Why is this topic so important?
David: The 2022 Agricultural Census shows that the average age of agricultural producers in Idaho is 59 years old, which means a significant number of farms and ranches will face ownership transitions over the coming decade. At the same time, Idaho has lost over 140,000 acres of agricultural land in recent years as real estate development expands. Many of the farms and ranches we lost are smaller operations, especially those located in counties experiencing rapid population growth.
For many producers, pressures are coming from several directions at once. Input and labor costs fluctuate, regulatory requirements evolve, product markets shift, and land values are driven more by development pressures rather than agricultural economics. Families thinking about succession are doing so while managing all these challenges.
That’s why this topic matters so much. If we want agriculture to remain part of Idaho’s landscape, we have to make it easier for the next generation to step into the work.
Working for the Future of Agriculture
Brooks: You’re a key part of the Land Transfer Navigators project. Funded by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, this nationwide effort is geared toward making generational land transitions easier for farm families. What are you doing to support successful farm transfers?
David: The starting point for Land Transfer Navigators in Idaho is identifying the different professionals who already support farm and ranch families and then helping them work more closely together. We’re bringing attorneys, financial planners, lenders, conservation organizations, extension educators, and others into a shared community of practice through regular online forums and conversations. The goal is to make sure that when a family begins thinking about transition, they’re not navigating the process alone or receiving fragmented advice.
We’re also trying to improve the quality and accessibility of succession planning resources. There are many tools out there, but they’re often scattered across different organizations or written for different audiences. We’re trying to make it easier for families and advisors to use these resources when they need them.
Brooks: Tell me a little more about that forum of service providers you’re convening. Are there any moments from those meetings that stand out to you?
David: One of the most rewarding parts of this work has been convening a regional community of succession professionals across the Pacific Northwest. When we first brought the group together, many participants had never met. Now they know one another — and can lean on each other as needed.
At a recent gathering, an expert said something that stuck with the room. Most succession plans don’t fail because of tax strategy or legal structure — they fail because families start the conversation too late. It’s not wise to wait until retirement is imminent. That sparked a discussion among attendees about how earlier planning could make a real difference for farm and ranch families.
Firsthand Experiences with Succession
Brooks: It’s clear that this issue matters to you. Why do you care so much about supporting farmers in the succession planning process?
David: If you spend much time in agricultural communities, you realize that succession planning is more than just a legal or financial exercise. It’s about relationships, identity, and the future of land that has often been cared for over multiple generations.
I’ve seen firsthand how complicated farm transitions can be. My family has ranched in the Lemhi Valley since 1910, and we’re on the cusp of another generational change ourselves. Families may share a deep attachment to the same land but have different individual visions for what its future should look like. Some family members want to continue producing, and others may have pursued careers elsewhere. Sometimes the economics of agriculture make the path forward uncertain. Without the right guidance, those situations can become incredibly stressful for families. They’re certainly stressful for me.
Supporting families, including my own, through that process is meaningful work, and it yields benefits for rural economies and our food system. If I can help make those transitions just a little smoother, that’s time well spent.
Thinking Beyond Ourselves
Brooks: Thanks so much for this conversation, David. Do you have any final thoughts to share?
David: Successful agriculture depends on thinking beyond our own time horizon. Farmers and ranchers make decisions every day that affect land, water, and communities for decades to come. Land succession is an extension of that same mindset. When families plan thoughtfully for the next generation, they’re not just transferring property — they’re passing along knowledge, stewardship traditions, and a sense of responsibility to care for the land.
A rancher once told me, “We don’t really own this place — we’re just taking care of it for the next generation.” That idea captures the spirit behind this work. If we can help more families hand that responsibility forward, then we’re doing something worthwhile.
