Virginia Department
of Forestry

Virginia’s Generation NEXT program – a collaboration between Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) – is an outreach program specifically designed to help family farm and forestland owners make informed and intentional decisions regarding passing their land forward to the next generation. Generation NEXT workshops provide landowners with necessary tools and resources as they begin planning for intergenerational land transfers.

The comprehensive publication Legacy Planning: A Guide for Virginia Landowners was published in 2020 as an invaluable supplementary resource to the workshops provided by the Generation NEXT program. The guide provides a step-by-step overview for planning land transfers and features landowner stories as case studies and is available in the additional resources below.

The Virginia Farm Link Program was established in the Code of Virginia to facilitate the transfer of farm businesses and properties from retiring farmers to active and new farmers, and to provide (i) assistance in the preparation of business plans for the transition of business interests; (ii) assistance in the facilitation of transfers of existing properties and agricultural operations to interested buyers; (iii) information on innovative farming methods and techniques; (iv) research assistance on agricultural business, finance, marketing, and other matters; and (v) assistance in locating conservation programs aimed at improving water quality.

The Office of Working Lands Preservation (OWL) is exploring new strategies to better achieve the program’s objectives. In addition to the resources and services provided by the Generation NEXT team, more information regarding farm transition and succession can be found at Virginia Farm Link. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also provides information and resources for new and beginning farmers.