Navigating Farm Succession Without a Family Heir: Selling Assets During Life

September 19, 2025

Navigating Farm Succession Without a Family Heir: Selling Assets During Life

By Jessica Groskopf - Extension Educator for Agricultural Economics

Aerial view of a farmstead with grain bins, equipment sheds, semitrucks, tractors, and pickup trucks parked around the yard, surrounded by expansive open fields under a clear blue sky.

What happens when there’s no family member to take over the farm? Selling assets during your lifetime may be the smart, empowering move many farm and ranch owners don’t fully consider. From spreading out sales over years rather than rushing into one big “retirement auction,” to timing transactions for tax advantages, this article walks through how you can stay in control of your legacy—financially, emotionally, and practically—without relying on a successor.

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