Farm transfer between generations of the same family has long been considered a highly significant aspect of rural ideology in Australia with major ramifications for farm management decision making. However, the importance attached to family farm succession has been increasingly questioned in current literature. Results from a study in rural culture in New South Wales support the contention that succession is declining in importance, highlighting instead that the wellbeing and education of younger family members is being placed ahead of expectations that children will automatically take over their parents' property and remain in farming. Implications of this trend for farm management are flagged and directions for further research explored.