Researchers at Lincoln University have found handing down the farm isn't as easy as you might think.

A survey of over 800 farmers has found many will experience problems in the future, when they attempt to divide their assets among their children.

Senior Lecturer Kevin Old says often children want to follow in their parents footsteps, which could cause problems when there's more than one heir to the family throne.

"It has caused some very sad rifts between siblings and sometimes partners of the siblings, things like divorces."

Kevin Old says farmers should start talking to family members about what they'd like to get out of the farm - before it's too late.