Thirty percent of farm families successfully transfer an intact farm from the first generation to the second. Of those, 10 percent transfer successfully to the third generation. Of those, only 4 percent transfer successfully to the fourth generation. Even fewer transfer to the fifth, sixth and seventh generation of farmers.

But a farm business succession plan can boost those numbers and help farm families continue their farm legacy in Iowa. And the Iowa Farm Bureau has resources — free of charge to Farm Bureau members — that can help make that happen.

The Take Root program was established earlier this year to help farmers develop a comprehensive, managed approach for their family...