Using official data from the farm structure surveys 2010 and 2016 for roughly 10,000 German farms specialised on arable farming we analyse the effects of structural change on participation in agri-environmental programmes by estimation of a multinomial logit model. Large farms participating in 2010 tend more often than smaller farms to stop participation by 2016. However, farm growth steps increase the probability to continue or start with participation in 2016. Younger farmers are more likely to participate than older farmers, unless the latter are sure to have a successor. Farms on which generational renewal took place between 2010 and 2016 show statistically significant increases in the probability to continue or start with agri-environmental commitments.