NATIONAL FARM ESTATE PLANNING SURVEY SEEKS INPUT FROM FARMERS, RANCHERS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS

SHELBYVILLE, IL., September 2026 – Farmers, ranchers, agricultural landowners and others 

involved in agriculture across the United States are invited to participate in an updated national 

survey examining the current state of farm estate and succession planning.

Cari Rincker, founder of Rincker Law, PLLC, is conducting the research to better understand 

how agricultural families are planning for the future, the obstacles that may prevent or delay 

planning, and the issues affecting the transfer of farms, ranches and agricultural businesses from 

one generation to the next.

The Farm Estate Planning Survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. 

Participants may remain anonymous, and providing an email address at the conclusion of 

the survey is optional.

Take the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8YSF9QX

“Farm succession is about much more than signing estate planning documents,” said Rincker. 

“Agricultural families are often making decisions about land ownership, business operations, 

management, retirement, family relationships and the future of an operation that may have taken 

generations to build. This survey is an opportunity to hear directly from the people facing those 

decisions and better understand what farm and ranch families need today.”

Updated Research Builds on 2020 National Survey

Rincker previously conducted a similar survey in 2020, receiving responses from 58 participants 

in states across the country.

Among other legal and trade publications, that research ultimately contributed to her 

WealthCounsel Quarterly article, “Survey Says: The Current State of Farm and Ranch 

Estate and Succession Planning,” which examined estate planning, business planning, 

succession planning, family communication and common challenges facing agricultural families.

The earlier findings highlighted significant planning and communication gaps.

Among the 2020 respondents:

• 56.14% reported having an estate plan.

• Slightly more than half had identified an heir interested in taking over the farm, ranch or 

agricultural business.

• Only 56.9% reported that their agricultural family openly communicated about 

estate planning.

• Nearly 48% reported that they did not have a succession plan addressing the 

transfer of knowledge and management skills from one generation to the next.

Respondents also identified concerns ranging from preserving the family farm and treating 

children fairly to avoiding family conflict, addressing taxes and costs, transferring land 

appropriately, and determining how on-farm and off-farm heirs should be treated.

Several years later, Rincker is revisiting those questions while also examining how 

circumstances may have changed.

The updated survey seeks insight into questions such as whether more farm families are 

completing estate plans, whether families are discussing succession more openly, what barriers 

continue to delay planning, and how factors such as family dynamics, land values, agricultural 

economics and business structures may influence succession decisions.

Results Will Support Agricultural Education

Results from the updated survey will help inform Rincker’s upcoming farm estate planning 

presentations, including a speaking engagement this November, as well as future articles and 

educational resources for the agricultural community.

The research may also provide useful insight for attorneys, accountants, financial professionals, 

mediators, agricultural organizations, Extension professionals, educators and other advisors who 

work with farm and ranch families.

Participation is encouraged regardless of whether an individual or family has already completed 

an estate or succession plan.

Responses from people who have not completed their planning are particularly valuable because 

they can help identify the practical, financial, informational and family-related obstacles that 

cause agricultural families to delay planning.

Agricultural Organizations Encouraged to Share Survey

Agricultural associations, commodity organizations, farm bureaus, livestock organizations, 

agricultural publications, Extension programs and other industry groups are encouraged to share 

the survey with their members, readers and networks.

The goal is to gather responses from a broad cross-section of the U.S. agricultural community.

Farmers, ranchers, agricultural landowners and others involved in agriculture can 

participate at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8YSF9QX

The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, and responses may remain anonymous.

About Rincker Law, PLLC

Rincker Law, PLLC works with farmers, ranchers, agricultural families and businesses on 

matters involving farm estate and succession planning, agricultural law, farm business planning 

and other legal issues affecting the food and agriculture industry.

For additional information about Rincker Law, visit https://rinckerlaw.com or call (217) 774-

1373.