Time is running out for many local farmers, with 42% in Tompkins County nearing retirement, according to The Tompkins Weekly.
At the 2026 Ag Summit, growers said passing down farms has grown more complex. Fewer heirs want to take over, pushing families to partner with unrelated newcomers.
Some farmers now train employees to become future owners, while others use trusts, LLCs, and long-term buyouts to keep land working.
One theme cut through every story: start planning early, or risk losing farms entirely instead of handing them off.
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