New research presented at the 2026 Top Producer Summit shows that about 44 million acres of U.S. cropland — nearly 15% of all farmland — is projected to transition ownership over the next three years, driven by generational changes, economic pressures and ongoing consolidation trends. Farm Journal data identified the Midwest as ground zero of this change.

For farmers considering their next move, understanding regional patterns land costs, and how to position their operations for growth is critical. For producers looking to grow their operations and size, the most viable areas include Kansas, Texas, North Dakota, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Read the full article to access data insights and the full report.