We talk a lot about succession in farming, often as if it sits somewhere in the future. Something that will be dealt with when the time comes, when the pressure builds, or when circumstances force a decision. But when you look at the latest figures from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, a more immediate and more complex picture emerges. Succession is not being ignored across the sector. In fact, most farms are engaging with it in some way. The issue is not whether people are thinking about succession. It is whether they are getting through it.
Across all farms, 37% are reviewing an existing succession plan, 10% are in the process of creating one, and 22% say they already have a plan in place. At the same time, 20% have not considered succession at all.At first glance, those figures feel relatively positive. Nearly 70% of farms are engaging with succession in some form. But the detail tells a different story. Only just over one in five farms have actually reached a clear, agreed position.The majority are somewhere in the middle. They are thinking, reviewing, or starting, but not yet finished. That middle ground is where most succession planning in UK farming now sits.
This pattern suggests that succession is not being avoided outright. It is being worked on, but often without resolution. In practice, this is not surprising. Succession is rarely just a technical exercise. It brings together questions of fairness, control, identity, and future direction. These are not easy conversations to move through quickly. So progress slows. Plans are discussed, revisited, and reconsidered. Decisions are delayed, not because they are unimportant, but because they are difficult to finalise.The data reflects that reality. High engagement, but relatively low completion.
The 20% of farms who have not considered succession at all remains one of the most important figures. One in five farm businesses are operating without any clear thought about how the business will transition. In a sector where average farm net worth sits at around £2.5 million, but income is often variable and margins tight, that lack of planning creates real exposure. This is not just about the future of ownership. It affects decision-making now. Without clarity on succession, investment can be delayed, opportunities missed, and long-term planning becomes more difficult.
The data also shows that succession planning varies significantly by farm type. Cereal farms appear further ahead. 41% are reviewing plans and 24% already have one in place, while only 14% have not considered succession. In contrast, livestock systems, particularly in less favoured areas, show a different picture. In LFA grazing livestock, 28% of farms have not considered succession at all. That is double the figure seen in cereals. Horticulture is similarly exposed, with 32% yet to engage with succession planning. These differences are not accidental. They reflect variations in profitability, structure, and long-term confidence in the business. Where margins are tighter and uncertainty is higher, succession becomes harder to progress.
One of the most important insights from the data is that succession does not sit in isolation. Farms that are actively reviewing and progressing succession plans tend to be those that are more engaged in managing their businesses overall. Planning, reviewing performance, and making deliberate decisions about the future all sit together. Where that management approach is less developed, succession is more likely to be delayed or avoided. In that sense, succession is not a separate issue. It is part of how a farm business is run.
Taken together, the figures give a clear picture. Succession is happening across the sector, but it is not moving quickly enough. Many farms have started the process, but far fewer have reached a clear outcome. This creates a position where businesses are in transition, but without defined direction. Control can remain unclear, responsibility may not be fully shared, and the next generation is often involved, but not fully empowered.Nothing appears to be wrong on the surface, but progress is limited.
The data tells a more nuanced story than the usual narrative. Succession is not being widely ignored, but nor is it being effectively completed. Most farms are somewhere in between, engaged, but unresolved. That gap between starting and finishing is where the real pressure sits. And in a sector facing ongoing change, that is the point that matters most.