Inheriting farmland is both a gift and a responsibility. For many Iowa families, farmland isn’t just an asset, it’s part of the family’s identity. But when land changes hands from one generation to the next, challenges can arise, especially when heirs aren’t actively involved in agriculture.
If you’ve recently inherited farmland or are planning for the future, this guide can help you understand your first steps and show how professional farm management can protect both your land and your family relationships.
What to Do When You Inherit Farmland
Inheriting farmland can be both an honor and a daunting responsibility, especially if you’ve never been involved in farming. While you may feel pressure to make quick decisions, the best approach is to begin with a clear understanding of what you’ve inherited and how it’s currently being managed.
These early steps will give you the confidence to move forward and protect your family’s investment. Here are the essential questions to ask right away:
1. Who legally owns the land now?
One of the first and most important steps is confirming that the title to the land was properly transferred to you (or to all heirs, if there are multiple). Just because the farm was mentioned in a will doesn’t mean the legal ownership automatically updated.
Action Step
Work with a probate attorney or estate planner to verify that ownership was recorded with the county.
If the land was placed in a trust or LLC, find out who the trustee or managing member is and what the governing documents say about next steps.
Ownership clarity will impact everything else: taxes, leases, insurance, and your ability to make decisions.
2. Is the land currently leased?
In Iowa, it’s common for farmland to be leased to local farmers, often under handshake agreements or one-year cash rent contracts. If the land has been leased for years, the current tenant may be planting crops already.
- Review any written lease agreements if they exist. If there’s no written lease, find out what verbal agreements are in place.
- Ask: Who is the tenant? What are the lease terms (cash rent or crop share)? When is rent due, and how is it paid?
- Don’t rush to make changes. In Iowa, tenants often have tenancy rights through the next growing season unless they’re properly notified by September 1.
Understanding lease status helps ensure you stay compliant with state law and respectful of long-term relationships your family may have had with local farmers.
3. Are property taxes current?
Farmland owners are responsible for paying annual property taxes, usually through the county treasurer’s office. If the land was part of an estate, it’s important to verify that all taxes are up to date and future payments are redirected correctly.
Check with the local assessor or treasurer’s office to see if any back taxes are owed.
Update the county with your current mailing address to receive future statements and avoid penalties.
4. What insurance coverage is in place?
Farmland should be protected just like any other real estate asset. That includes:
- Liability insurance in case someone is injured on the property.
- Property insurance for any buildings, bins, or improvements.
- Crop insurance or farm equipment coverage if the land is actively farmed. This may be the tenant’s responsibility, but it’s important to confirm.
If you’re unsure, reach out to your family’s former insurance agent or broker and ask for a current policy summary. A smart early move is to update contact information and verify coverage limits.
Taking the time to gather this information in the beginning will help you avoid legal or financial pitfalls and build a solid foundation for long-term land stewardship.
These details ensure your next steps are informed and intentional, regardless if you’re managing the land yourself or partnering with a company like Stalcup Ag.
When Siblings Inherit Together: The Co-Ownership Challenge
It’s common for multiple heirs—often siblings—to inherit farmland together. This can be a beautiful continuation of family legacy, but it also introduces complexity.
Shared ownership means shared decisions, shared liability, and often, differing opinions. One sibling may want to hold onto the land forever. Another may want to sell. Another might want nothing to do with it.
Without clear communication and planning, co-ownership can lead to tension or worse: forced sales, mismanagement, or family disputes.
We’ve covered this issue in this post about family farmland division, but the key takeaway is this: co-owners need a structured approach and often benefit from a neutral third party to guide decisions and maintain fairness.
Why Professional Farm Management Makes a Difference
For many families, hiring a professional farm manager like Stalcup Ag is the most practical and peaceful path forward.
Here’s why:
- We represent the family’s values on the ground, whether you’re nearby or several states away.
- We communicate with tenants, handle lease negotiations, and ensure fair market rent is being paid.
- We provide detailed financial reports and annual updates to all owners.
- We prioritize stewardship, maintaining soil health and long-term productivity for future generations.
Most importantly, we help remove the emotional burden from family members.
When Stalcup handles the day-to-day responsibilities, heirs can focus on relationships instead of farm operations or disagreements over money.
How Stalcup Supports Heirs and Families
Stalcup Ag has partnered with Iowa landowners since 1942.
Many of our clients are parents who have run a family farm for decades and want to ensure the next generation stays connected to the land, even if they don’t want to farm.
Here’s how we help:
- Farm Management: Ongoing oversight of operations, tenants, and land health.
- Farm Appraisals: Independent valuations to help with estate planning or selling.
- Lease Oversight: Professional negotiation and tenant relationships.
- Sales & Auctions: When families decide to sell, we manage it with transparency and integrity.
Communication: Whether heirs live in town or across the country, we make sure everyone is informed and involved as much or as little as they want to be.
Our relationships often span generations. We work hard to earn trust, stay transparent, and make landownership feel manageable, not stressful.
If you’re ready to have a conversation or get your questions answered about how to keep your farmland in the family or what to do now that you’ve inherited farmland, give us a call, and we’ll be in touch.
