NASDA President and Nebraska Director of Agriculture Greg Ibach spoke last week to attendees of the 92nd Annual USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum on a panel focusing on Land Tenure & Transition.

During his remarks, Ibach focused on NASDA's policy calling for sound financial security and land ownership policies.

LAND OWNERSHIP HURDLES: "Agricultural lands are America's legacy and access to these lands is the biggest hurdle to our next generation of farmers and ranchers," Ibach said.

"Agricultural lands are America's legacy and access to these lands is the biggest hurdle to our next generation of farmers and ranchers," Ibach said. "As the chief promoters of agriculture in our states, NASDA Members are all too familiar with the need to provide the next generation with access to affordable credit and easily accessible programs provided by the Farm Service Agency. One way Nebraska is complementing USDA's efforts is by providing tax exemptions to beginning farmers and tax credits to agricultural asset owners as they partner through our NExtGen Program."

A critical need
"There is also a critical need to help our farm and ranch families gain access to farm succession planning services," Ibach continued. "If we do not help our farm families plan their future, farms will continue to be carved up and sold to the highest bidder causing even higher levels of consolidation in the industry."

Ibach was joined by Neil Hamilton, Professor of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center, Drake University, Damona Doye, Regents Professor and Rainbolt Chair of Agricultural Finance, Oklahoma State University, and Randall Hildreth, a landowner from Georgia.

Greg Ibach

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. Ibach will host the 2016 NASDA Annual Meeting in Lincoln on September 21-24.

Source: NASDA