The Future of Centre County Farmland: Why Succession, Preservation, and Smart Real Estate Planning Matter

Farmland has always been part of what makes Centre County special. From the rolling fields of Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Bellefonte, and the edges of State College, agricultural land shapes the way our communities look, feel, and grow.

But across Pennsylvania, farmland is facing a major turning point. A recent Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® article highlighted a growing issue: a large amount of farmland is expected to change hands over the next couple decades, yet many farm families do not have a formal succession plan in place. That creates real questions for landowners, families, and communities. What happens when the next generation is not ready to farm? What happens when siblings inherit land but have different goals? What happens when a property has both agricultural value and development value?

Those questions matter here in Centre County.

According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Centre County had 892 farms and more than 122,000 acres of land in farms. Agriculture is still a meaningful part of our local economy and identity. These properties are not just open fields on a map. They are working farms, family homes, rural businesses, hunting land, pasture, woodland, and long-term investments.

That is why farmland succession is not just a farming issue. It is also a real estate issue.

When a farm or rural property changes hands, the decision is rarely simple. A family may want to preserve the land, but also needs to be fair to heirs. A retiring farmer may want to sell, but only to someone who will respect the land. A rural property owner may not know whether the value is in the farmhouse, the acreage, the soils, the road frontage, the outbuildings, or future development potential. In many cases, it is a combination of all of the above.

Centre County already has a strong history of farmland preservation. The Centre County Agricultural Land Preservation Board has helped preserve thousands of acres through agricultural conservation easements. Pennsylvania as a whole is also one of the national leaders in farmland preservation, with hundreds of thousands of acres protected across the state.

Preservation can be a powerful option for some landowners. It can help keep farmland in agricultural use and protect the rural character of the property for future generations. But it is not the right answer for every family. Conservation easements, Clean and Green enrollment, Agricultural Security Areas, zoning, subdivision potential, and long-term family goals can all affect what makes the most sense.

This is where good planning becomes so important.

Too often, families wait until they are forced to make a decision. By then, emotions are high, timelines are tight, and options may feel limited. A better approach is to understand the property’s value, the local market, and the available paths before a major life event creates pressure.

For Centre County landowners, that may mean looking at whether the property is best suited for another farmer, a rural lifestyle buyer, a neighboring landowner, a conservation-minded buyer, or a future development opportunity. A farm near Boalsburg or Lemont may have a different buyer pool than acreage in Penns Valley, Bellefonte, or Port Matilda. A property enrolled in Clean and Green may require a different conversation than a smaller farmette with strong residential appeal.

The key is knowing what you have before deciding what to do next.

Rural real estate in Centre County is unique because it often carries both financial and emotional value. A farm may represent generations of work. A piece of land may be tied to family memories, community identity, or a way of life. At the same time, it may also be one of the largest financial assets a family owns.

That balance is exactly why farmers and rural property owners should have trusted local guidance before selling, transferring, preserving, or dividing land.

A strong real estate strategy does not mean pushing every landowner to sell. It means helping owners understand their options. What could the property be worth in today’s market? Who would the most likely buyer be? Would the land have more value kept together or separated? How would preservation affect future resale? What questions should be asked before making a long-term decision?

In Centre County, rural land is becoming increasingly valuable because it is limited. Buyers continue to look for space, privacy, views, acreage, recreational land, and homes outside of traditional neighborhoods. At the same time, farmland preservation remains important for protecting the character and agricultural future of our area.

That creates both opportunity and responsibility.

If you own a farm, farmette, acreage, or rural property in Centre County, now may be a good time to start the conversation — even if you are not ready to sell. Understanding your property’s real estate value and your possible options can help you make a more confident decision when the time comes.

For legal, tax, estate, or preservation advice, landowners should speak with the appropriate professionals, including an attorney, accountant, township office, or farmland preservation specialist. But from a real estate perspective, having a clear understanding of your property’s market position is an important first step.

Centre County farmland is more than dirt and acreage. It is legacy, livelihood, and opportunity. Whether your goal is to preserve the land, pass it down, sell it, or simply understand what it may be worth, having the right local real estate guidance can make all the difference.

If you own farmland, acreage, a farmette, or rural property in Centre County and want to better understand your options, I would be happy to help.

Phil Williams
RE/MAX Centre Realty
State College & Centre County Real Estate

Sources

Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® — Farmland succession and preservation in Pennsylvania
Centre County Government — Farmland Preservation in Centre County
USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture — Centre County, Pennsylvania profile
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture — Pennsylvania farmland preservation updates
WeConservePA — Farmland preservation options for landowners