Ontario's Farm Succession Crisis Is Really a Financing Crisis - Here's How to Solve It

By Advitiya Girdhar

The succession crisis does not look like a lack of interest in farming. It looks like a spreadsheet that does not balance.

The Scope Of The Problem

Farm Credit Canada estimates that more than $50 billion in farm assets will change hands across the country in the coming years, while many farm families still do not have a succession plan in place.

The Financing Toolkit

Vendor take-back arrangements
Conventional and specialized farm mortgages
Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) loans
Tax planning tools that affect how much needs to be financed

Where To Start

Start with an honest look at what a transfer would actually cost, and what combination of tools could realistically cover it.