Land Access & Transition

Food & Land Committee

The DRA Food & Land Committee (FLC) is a growing grassroots group of SD producers and supporters who believe that collaborative farmer and rancher-led policy change in our state plays a key role in keeping farmland in farm hands by supporting successful transitions. 

What's the Problem?

  • Farmland ownership by corporate investors–pension funds, investment firms, trusts, etc.–is increasing. The number of institutionally owned farmland properties has tripled from 2009 to 2022.
  • Skyrocketing land prices are pushed up by large corporate investors who can outbid local farmers. Young farmers in the US say finding affordable farmland is their number one challenge (according to National Young Farmers Coalition).
  • In South Dakota, farmers age 65 and older outnumber farmers 35 and younger by 6:1 according to the 2023 Farm Census data 

  • South Dakota is no exception to these pressures, having lost an average of four family farms per week in the last three decades, according to the Ag Census.

Why is this a problem?

  • Corporations often obtain land unfairly, using predatory, extractive methods, taking advantage of local farmland owners in financial crises or at times of family loss
  • When local, independent producers control farmland, they feed our country and support local economic, environmental and social health. Farmland in local control supports national food security and the public interest over corporate profits that don’t extend back into the community.

What can we do about it?

The FLC has identified FarmLink as a first step solution to start addressing the land access problem. 

Farm Link is an initiative designed to connect landowners with farmers and ranchers seeking land for agricultural purposes. These programs help facilitate the transfer of farmland through leases, sales, or other arrangements, aiming to support both beginning farmers and established landowners. The program has a major online presence as a large directory, but other states have provided additional offline resources like educational workshops, technical assistance, and farm succession planning.

Per South Dakota codified law, a Farm Link program should be operating, but is not. To meet the problem of our time with aging South Dakota farmers and land that will be transitioned, FLC believes reviving the Farm Link program is a necessary step the state must take.

If you want to get involved to move this work forward, contact action@dakotarural.org!

Land access is an issue across the country. As members of the National Family Farm Coalition, DRA Member Leaders’ voices are heard in D.C. to address this issue! Learn more about the Land for Family Farmers Act that we are collectively pushing for.

Your voice has more power among others, in SD and in our nation’s capitol. Our power is greater together. Join now!

Land Transition Planning Course

  • Are you a farm family or landowner thinking about the future or next steps for your farm?
  • Are you interested in planning for the next generation of farmers on your land? 
  • Do you have a spouse/partner helping to make these decisions? Are you both on the same page?
  • Are you ready to being the planning process but don’t know where to start?

Join This Winter’s 2026 Farm Transition Planning Course!

TOPICS INCLUDE: Goal-setting, financial, legal, long-term care considerations; considerations working with next generation farmers; farm transitions options and resources, communication tools, peer-to-peer networking, and more.

Presenters at the workshop will include other area farmers who are implementing farm transition plans, as well as professionals representing the legal and financial fields as they relate to agricultural businesses. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to begin engaging in the planning process as well as learn about resources for continuing the process after the workshop has ended.

Register Here!

From a past participant:

“Do it! It’s  a must, very good foundational level information. I gained access to vital resources I otherwise would not have had access to. Peer group setting helped me build the confidence needed to move forward.”

Topic Dates & Times:

  • Saturday, Jan 31st: Goal Setting for LIfe & Land, 10:00am-4:00pm

  • Tues. Feb 3: Values and Why Farm Transition Planning is Needed, 5:30pm-8:00pm

  • Tues. Feb 10: Financial Considerations, 5:30-8:00pm

  • Tues. Feb 17: Legal Considerations, 5:30-8:00pm

  • Tues. Feb 24: Working with the Next Generation Farmers, 5:30-8:00pm

  • Tues. March 3: Long Term Care Considerations, 5:30-8:00pm

  • Saturday, March 14: Resources and Planning Next Steps, 10:00am-4:00pm 

The course fee is $250 per family. The registration deadline is January 9. For more farm transition resources, check-out these from the Land Stewardship Project. 

Learn more about our Historic work in land access & Transition

Dakota Rural Action has operated a Farm Beginnings Training in the past, as was developed by the Land Stewardship Project. After recognizing there was a barrier from training participants to access land, our efforts have shifted to address the land access problem. Many SD Farmers have benefitted from this former training though, and you can learn more about that here.

Farm Beginnings Training
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