Lands changing hands: Experiences of succession and farm (knowledge) acquisition among first-generation, multigenerational, and aspiring farmers

Some are predicting that as much as 70% of the nation's farmland will exchange hands between 2011 and 2031 (Dean, 2011). Given these changes looming on the food horizon, there is a need to better understand the processes, barriers, and opportunities related to intergenerational farm transfer, especially at the rural-urban interface. I draw upon data collected through interviews with five distinct populations: first-generation farmer, beginning (FGB); first-generation farmer, experienced (FGE); multigenerational farmer, beginning (MGB); multigenerational farmer, experienced (MGE); and first generational farmer, aspiring (FGA). Two questions in particular are addressed: (1) what are the different values, motivations, and perceptions among FGB, FGE, MGB, MGE, and FGA toward farming and how do these experiences shape on-farm practices and (2) what are the barriers to farm entry (structural, economic, social and epistemic) and how have respondents worked to overcome them? The data used to explore these questions are drawn from semi-structured interviews with individuals from each of the aforementioned farm categories located near Omaha, Nebraska, or Des Moines, Iowa.