From more than 30 years of working with farming families, and over 20 recent one-on-one calls from our current succession campaign, Matt highlighted five recurring challenges:

1. Uncertainty Around Succession

Most families don’t have a clear plan. There’s confusion around who will take over, when, and how. Without timelines or agreements, this uncertainty creates frustration and delays.

2. Strained Communication and Family Dynamics

Succession is emotional. It often comes with unresolved conflict, misaligned expectations, and unspoken family “roles” like the hero, the martyr or the outsider. Lack of transparency can hold families back from having the conversations that matter most.

3. Financial Pressure

Succession can’t happen “on thin air.” Many farms are under financial stress, dealing with poor seasons, debt, rising costs and limited retirement funding. That pressure can lead to inaction, resentment, or rushed decisions made in crisis.

4. Lack of Formal Planning

Most farms don’t have clear documentation like agreements, trusts or updated estate plans in place. This makes succession risky, confusing, and far more difficult than it needs to be.

5. Limited Support and Outside Guidance

Too often, families try to tackle these issues alone or they jump straight to legal advice without alignment, but real progress starts with getting on the same page. Then, the right professionals can help bring the strategy to life