Wellington County, Ont. – With nearly 40 per cent of Canadian farmers expected to retire in the next eight years and only 10.5 per cent of local farms having written succession plans, Wellington County has launched new supports to help farming families navigate this critical period of transition.
Over the coming decade, an estimated 1,000 farms in Wellington County are likely to change ownership or management. These changes will affect not only farm families but also suppliers, processors, and the broader rural economy.
“Farms are the backbone of our community, and the decisions made in the next few years will shape our agricultural landscape for generations,” said Councillor Jeff Duncan, Economic Development Committee Chair. “Whether families are passing farms down to the next generation, selling to employees, or seeking outside buyers - a clear transition plan protects their legacy and strengthens the future of agriculture.”
According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, only 276 farms in Wellington County had written transition plans. Without clear guidance, many families face uncertainty when considering one of the most significant business and family decisions of their lives.
Farm transition planning is not just about finances - it also involves family dynamics, emotional connections to land and legacy, knowledge transfer between generations, and business continuity.
Wellington County’s new programme offers families a variety of resources to suit different learning styles:
- Practical planning guide: ‘Your Farm, Your Future’ provides structured questions, real-life scenarios, and specific advice for families with and without identified successors. Hard copies can be requested online or accessed digitally.
- Online course: In partnership with Loft32, farmers can access Farmers’ Bridge which includes two professionally developed courses: ‘Transition Foundations’ and ‘Transition Communications’. Courses are valued at $250 but are free until April 2026 for the first 100 participating Wellington County farms.
- In-person workshops: Three workshops will be held at the Grandway Event Centre between November 2025 and February 2026, featuring expert facilitators including Maggie Van Camp and Patti Durand of Brightrack. Topics include starting the transition process, navigating communication challenges, and redefining leadership roles during succession.
Participants in workshops and courses will also be entered into a draw to win one of three professionally produced Farm Family Legacy Videos to help document agricultural history and spark succession conversations.
All resources can be accessed at wellington.ca/transitionplanning.
“Families told us they needed practical, accessible resources to navigate what can be emotionally and financially complex conversations,” said Jordan Grigg, Agriculture Coordinator for Wellington County. “That’s what we’ve set out to provide.”
This initiative is funded in part by the Government of Ontario.
Media Contact: Jordan Grigg, Agriculture Coordinator, 519.837.2600 x 2542, jordang@wellington.ca