(Spencer)– An increase in farmland value of as much as 15 percent during 2010 alone points out the importance for land owners, especially those with tenants leasing land, to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Iowa State University Extension will be holding a series of workshops throughout northwest Iowa for that very purpose. One is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19th at 1:15 p.m. at the Dickinson County Extension office in Spirit Lake; another is set for 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 21st in the 4-H Auditorium at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer.
The workshops will run about two and-a-half hours and will feature Melissa O’Rourke, ISU Extension Farm and Agribusiness Management Specialist. She’ll present information about a wide range of topics pertaining to farmland values and leasing.
O’Rourke is a licensed attorney with extensive practice in working with farm, ranch and agribusiness interests. She says there is heightened interest in farm leasing arrangements along with a change in the trend of farmland ownership and leasing.
She says 55 percent of Iowa’s farmland is owned by people over the age of 65, while 28 percent is owned by individuals over 75.
O’Rourke adds that children and surviving spouses of farmers are less likely to continue operating the farm themselves.
A $20 per person fee will be charged for the workshop, or $30 per couple. A $5 late fee will be charged to those who sign up after July 15th. The registration fee includes materials with information about land values, leasing and different types of farm lease arrangements.
Those interested in attending should pre-register by calling the Dickinson County Extension office for those planning to attend the session in Spirit Lake at 336-3488; or the Clay County Extension office at (712) 262-2264 for those planning to attend the one in Spencer.
Seminars are also scheduled for July 18th in Rock Rapids, Sibley and Orange City; July 19th in Sheldon and LeMars; and July 20th in Estherville, Algona and Emmetsburg.
More information is available by contacting the extension offices in those respective counties.
