A presentation by Heather Thoma to the Quinte Woodlot Association Conference on October 2nd, 2025
Heather Thoma, Operations Manager for Farms at Work began this Property Succession presentation with a simple question:
Who here considers themselves a farmland owner with a woodlot—and who considers themselves a woodlot owner with farmland?
How people identify with their land shapes how they care for it, and how they imagine its future. Heather invited participants to consider how their properties could serve multiple purposes through collaboration and stewardship, ensuring both farmland and woodlots continue to thrive for generations to come.
A Time of Farmland Transition
Ontario is in a critical period of farmland transition. Many long-time farmers are reaching retirement age, yet few have clear succession plans. Increasingly, farmland is being purchased by non-farmers—people who may be drawn to the beauty of a rural property or the serenity of a mixed landscape that includes forested and farmland areas.
However, without guidance or community connections, these new owners may leave the farmland portion of their property underused or fallow. Heather emphasized how vital it is to keep farmland in sustainable production; not only for individual landowners’ benefit, but for the health and resilience of our regional food system.:
- Farmland values in East Central Ontario have risen by more than 750% over the past 25 years—putting ownership increasingly out of reach for new farmers.
- Farmland acreage has decreased by 34% (nearly 600,000 acres) over the last 45 years across counties including Durham, Northumberland, Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes.
As farmland becomes more expensive and less available, every acre that remains in sustainable production matters.
Connecting Landowners and Farmers
That’s where Farms at Work comes in. We work with landowners who may be unsure how to make their farmland productive again, or how to connect with the next generation of farmers. By facilitating relationships and sharing knowledge, Farms at Work helps bridge the gap between those who have land and those who want to farm.
Whether you’re a new rural landowner, a retiring farmer, or someone simply hoping to see your land used sustainably, explore how Farms at Work can help:
- Fill out our Farmland Owner Survey to let us know your familiarity with local farm systems and we will respond with programming that can support you
- List or find farmland: FindFarmland.ca – a free, Ontario-wide online bulletin board for renting, leasing, or partnering on farmland.
Through collaboration, education, and access, we can maintain farmland in sustainable production, help new entrants and support a future where thriving farms and woodlots coexist as cornerstones of a resilient East Central Ontario.
Download the full presentation slideshow here.
Heather Thoma
Operations Manager
Farms at Work