NACD 2026 Summer Meeting

Across the United States, the farming population is aging rapidly, creating an urgent need to support the next generation of farmers while ensuring farmland remains in active agricultural use. Farm linking platforms have emerged as one promising solution. According to American Farmland Trust, there are currently more than 38 farm and land linking websites nationwide designed to connect farmland owners with aspiring farmers and ranchers.

These platforms help farm seekers identify available land while assisting landowners in navigating the often complex process of land transfer. However, farm linking programs vary widely across the country. Some focus primarily on matchmaking between landowners and farmers, while others provide additional resources such as educational materials, leasing templates, and succession planning tools.

This presentation will highlight two Midwestern examples—Michigan Farm Link and Iowa State University Beginning Farmer Center—and explore how each program approaches the farm linking model. Attendees will learn how these platforms operate, the resources they provide, and how they support both retiring farmers and beginning farmers seeking land access.