Ten-Year Farm Development Plan

Why plan ten years ahead?

Farms change slowly. Soil, fence, buildings, herds and skills take years to build. A long view helps you decide which investments matter, and which tempting ones pull you off track. Try writing the plan as a short letter to yourself ten years from now, describing what you hope the farm looks like and what you did to get there.

A plan is not a promise. It is a set of best guesses you update as life, markets and weather change.

Many farmers plan in their heads and are surprised to find that the family disagrees. Writing it down brings out those differences early.

What should you start with?

Begin with your values and goals. What do you want the farm to provide for you and your family? Income, food, land care, a place to live, a legacy? Different answers lead to different plans.

Then take an honest inventory of what you have, including land, buildings, equipment, skills, money, health and family support.

Be honest about your limits. A plan that needs eighty hours of work a week from you is not realistic.

• Personal and family goals
• Land, water and soil resources
• Equipment and buildings
• Skills and training needs
• Money, debts and income
• Labor and time available

How do you set goals for each stage?

Break the ten years into three stages. The first two years focus on learning, fixing basics and testing ideas. The middle years build and refine. The later years expand, step back or pass on, depending on your goals. A first-year goal might be as simple as keeping honest records, and a fifth-year goal might be a second source of income.

Write a few clear goals for each stage, and note how you will know whether they are met.

Leave room in the early years for mistakes, and treat them as part of learning rather than failure.

How do you handle money and risk?

Test the plan against bad years. What if prices fall, a barn burns, a key person gets sick or a drought hits? Keep a cushion and avoid depending on one crop, market or buyer. Plan for a year when income drops and expenses rise together, since that is the situation that tests a plan hardest.

A farm business advisor, lender or accountant can help you work with numbers. I cannot give financial advice, and programs and costs change, so ask the SBA, FSA and extension about current support.

Ask a lender or the SBA about what a business plan should include if you may seek a loan.

How does land fit in?

Plan how you will care for soil, water and habitat as well as how you will use them. Talk to NRCS or your conservation district about long-term options. Think about whether you will own, lease or both.

Check zoning, permits and easements before you commit to big changes, and plan for succession, even if it feels far away.

Include wild or unused areas in your plan. Land that is not producing now may be useful for habitat, buffers or future building.

How do people and health fit in?

The most important resource on any farm is the people. Plan for rest, family time, and what happens if someone cannot work. Talk openly about workloads and expectations.

If stress builds, reach out. Your county health office or doctor can point to local support, and in the US you can call or text 988 anytime for emotional support.

Share your plan with a trusted friend or mentor, who may see problems you cannot.

How do you review and adjust?

Review the plan once a year, perhaps in winter. Record what happened, what you learned and what you will change. Update goals when life changes.

Share the plan with those who matter, such as family, partners and advisors, and invite honest feedback. A plan that is read and revised is worth far more than a perfect one that sits in a drawer.

Treat the plan as a conversation. When something big changes, sit down and rewrite the next two years.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.