As more owners are reaching retirement, more farmland in Iowa is changing hands each year. This presents challenges and opportunities for farmland owners, heirs, aspiring farmers and tenants. This great transition includes not only the land, but also the farm businesses, compounding the complexities that many Iowa farmers and landowners are facing.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is holding a series of free farm transfer workshops across Iowa in November and December to help farm families understand the farm ownership landscape in Iowa and possible strategies to start the farm transition process. Each workshop runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and will be hosted by a local farmer or landowner.

Do you have a succession plan?

Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates and Farm Financial Strategies Inc. will lead the events and discuss the why and how of farmland transition, including farm leasing trends, how to communicate with family about your farmland transition and the next steps to be thinking of in the farm transfer process.

The workshops are free and will include a meal and networking time. They will conclude with a discussion of possible strategies and steps for farm transfer. RSVPs are appreciated to help with meal planning. To sign up, visit practicalfarmers.org, or contact Debra Boekholder at [email protected] or 515-232-5661.

Schedule for upcoming workshops:

In Iowa, 60% of farmland is owned by people 65 years or older, and a record 35% of land is owned by people 75 years or older, according to the most recent Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey released in the summer by Iowa State University.

For questions about the workshops or farm transfer, contact Jorgen Rose at 515-232-5661 or [email protected].

Source: PFI, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.