1. Topics
  2. Business and economics

Estate and succession planning

Photo Credit: RG - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)
Description:

Planning for the future is essential for farm, woodland and ranchland legacy. OSU’s “Ties to the Land” and other succession programs guides landowners through the social, legal, and financial dimensions of transferring stewardship to the next generation.

Ties to the Land: Succession planning for rural landowners

Whether you own a farm, forest or rangeland, you care about your property and what happens to it. That's why you need a succession plan to help guide its transition to future owners. Ties to the Land helps you think through the social, financial and legal aspects of succession.

View the guide
Photo Credit: Wasim - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Latest resources

Episode 70: Community Forestry in the PNW

Daniel Wear and Jake Barker discuss the ins and outs of acquiring and managing a section of forestland to achieve the ultimate goals of a community.

Carrie Cantrell, Jake Barker, Daniel Wear | Dec 2025 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

OSU Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network - :90

Agriculture is an occupation full of potential stressors like weather, changing economic markets, animal health and machinery breakdowns. When these start to compound, many farmers experience excessive amounts of stress, making it hard...

Feb 2025 | Video

Oregon Small Woodlands Association

Oregon Small Woodlands Association is an organization made up of Oregon small woodland owners who practice and believe in: the strength of peer to peer communication between landowners, the strength of a unified effort to address legislative and regulatory challenges, and the strength of partnerships in addressing and solving common problems.

Mar 2024 | Online resource

Browse All Resources

Introduction to farm succession planning

A thriving family agricultural business is rooted in strong planning and communication. OSU’s free online handbook, Getting Organized: Business Organization and Succession Planning for Oregon Family Farms and Ranches, teaches you how to lay a strong but flexible legal foundation for your family and business to grow.

Learn more
Photo Credit: Bob - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

More Succession Planning Resources

  • Oregon Small Woodlands Association: Oregon Small Woodlands Association is an organization made up of Oregon small woodland owners who practice and believe in: the strength of peer to peer communication between landowners, the strength of a unified effort to address legislative and regulatory challenges, and the strength of partnerships in addressing and solving common problems.
  • My Land Plan: My Land Plan is a free online resource tool created by the American Forest Foundation that helps woodland owners get more out of their woods.

Latest news

OSU Extension trainings provide safety net for stressed farmers and ranchers

QPR suicide-prevention training equips agricultural communities with tools to support one another.

Francesca Lear, Kym Pokorny | May 21, 2024 | News story

All News

Explore more resources

Ask Extension

Have a question? Ask Extension!

Ask Extension is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.

Ask us a question