The Farm LASTSÂ Project Online Manual
IV. Proceedings: Changing Lands, Changing Hands Conference.
Navigation:
About the Conference
Plenary Sessions
- New Players in Farm/Ranch Financing
- Federal and State Policy Issues and Innovations
- Tenancy: Opportunity or Serfdom?
- Preparing the Next Generation, Land Access Curricula
- Land Access and Affordability
- Incubator and Mentoring Programs: Pathways to Land Acquisition
- Minority and Immigrant Farmer and Land Issues
- Farm/Ranch Succession Education, Programs and Services
- International Perspective: Research, Programs and Policies
- Linking Programs: What Works, What's Next
- Farm Viability, Business Planning and Transfer
- The "Soft Issues": Communication and Conflict in Succession Planning
- Transferring Management: The Overlooked Challenge
- Women at the Table
Sponsors
Executive Summary
About the Conference
[back to top]The Changing Lands, Changing Hands onference on farm and ranch land access, succession, tenure, and stewardship was held on June 10-11, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. It was the first national conference to address these critically important issues. More than 160 Extension and other educators, agricultural service professionals, agency staff, farm and other non-governmental groups, and policymakers gathered to present, share and evaluate successful and new approaches and tools to address land access, succession and stewardship.
Participants heard findings and recommendations from two years of research and curriculum development by the FarmLASTS Project. Together, we addressed barriers such as affordability and transferring management. We examined regionally appropriate strategies for promoting access, secure tenure, conservation and future business viability. We discussed how to strengthen service networks to improve assistance to farming and ranching families and new entrants. We addressed the unique needs of special farming populations such as women, immigrants, African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Participants also contributed their knowledge and suggestions about model programs and policies which were incorporated into the final project reports.
Plenary Sessions
[back to top]Opening Plenary Panel: The Landscape
Track 1. Land Access and Tenure
[back to top]New Players in Farm/Ranch Financing
IDAs, equity investors and other innovative financing models for getting farmers onto the land.
- Robert Karp, New Spirit Ventures (WI) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Steve Schwartz, California Farm Link (PDF)
- Quint Redmond, Agriburbia (CO) (PDF)
Federal and State Policy Issues and Innovations
Experts shared what's new, what's working and what's next in the policy arena.
- Traci Bruckner, Center for Rural Affairs (NE)
- Michael Duffy, IA State University (PDF) (Presentation)
- Fred Hoefner, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- Dave Kimmel, NJ Department of Agriculture (PDF) (Presentation)
Tenancy: Opportunity or Serfdom?
Nearly half U.S. farmers and ranchers rent some or all their land. The pros and cons of non-ownership tenure are covered here.
- J. Gordon Arbuckle (IA State University) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm (MA)
- Ellie Kastanopolous, Equity Trust (MA) (PDF)
- Karl Kupers, Shepherd's Grain (WA)
Preparing the Next Generation: Land Access Curricula
A FarmLASTS curriculum for academic courses and community-based farmer training programs.
- Robin Kohanowich, Central Carolina Community College (NC) (PDF - Joint Presentation with Chuck Steiner)
- Chuck Steiner, University of Wisconsin/Platteville (PDF)
- Jen Taylor, University of Wisconsin/Madison
Land Access and Affordability
A look at affordability issues and new models to make land moreaffordable for farm entrants.
- Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm (MA) (PDF)
- Jess Gilbert and Chandra Hinton, University of Wisconsin/Madison
- Steve Schwartz, California FarmLink (PDF)
- Alex Wylie, Vermont Land Trust ("PDF) (Presentation)
Incubator and Mentoring Programs: Pathways to Land Acquisition
Creative programs that help new farmers find and get onto land.
- Altfrid Krusenbaum (Krusen Grass Farm, WI) (Presentation)
- Gary Peterson, ALBA (CA) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Steve Stevenson, FarmLASTS Project (WI) (PDF)
Minority and Immigrant Farmer and Land Issues
[back to top]Issues like fractionation, heir property, cultural differences and language barriers are addressed.
- Marsha Goetting, University of Montana (PDF)(Presentation)
- Dania Davey, Land Loss Prevention Project (NC)
- Gary Peterson, ALBA and New Immigrant Farming Initiative (CA) (PDF)
Track 2. Succession
[back to top]Farm/Ranch Succession Education, Programs and Services
Find out what's out there and what's working well to help exiting farm and ranch families
- Bob Bernstein, Land For Good (NH)
- Dave Goeller, University of Nebraska (PDF) (Presentation)
- Marsha Goetting, University of Montana (PDF) (Presentation)
- Gary Hachfeld, University of Minnesota (PDF) (Presentation)
International Perspective: Research, Programs and Policies
What the U.S. can learn from Canada, Europe and elsewhere about farm entry and exit.
- John Baker, Iowa State University (PDF)
- Peter Coughler, Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (Ontario)
- Matthew Lobley, University of Exeter (UK) (Presentation)
Linking Programs: What Works, What's Next
A roundtable discussion about farm link program successes and challenges.
- Dave Baker, Iowa State University (PDF) (Presentation)
- Andrew Branan, North Carolina Farm Transition Network (PDF)
- Wyatt Fraas, Center for Rural Affairs (NE) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Reggie Knox, California Farm Link (PDF)
Farm Viability, Business Planning and Transfer
Can the farm business survive a transfer to the next generation or owner?
- Dave Goeller, University of Nebraska (PDF) (2008 Presentation)(2009 Presentation)
- Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council (DC) (PDF)(Presentation)
- Robert Parsons, University of Vermont (PDF) (Presentation)
- Karen Stettler, Land Stewardship Project (MN) (PDF)
The "Soft Issues:" Communication and Conflict in Succession Planning
Goals, vision, values, family dynamics, communication styles… these can make or break succession planning
- Sharon Danes, University of Minnesota (PDF) (Presentation)
- Sharon DeVaney, Purdue University (PDF) (PDF) (PDF)
- Debra Heleba, University of Vermont (Presentation)
Transferring Management: The Overlooked Challenge
Passing on management and strategies to help families succeed. Two joint presentations (Presentation 1 &Presentation 2) by:
- John Baker, Iowa State University
- Rodney Jones, Kansas State University
Women at the Table
As farm operator, farmer's partner, widow or entrant, women have unique challenges and offerings.
- Sharon Danes, University of Minnesota (PDF)(Presentation)
- Debra Heleba, University of Vermont
- Denise O'Brien, Women, Food & Agriculture Network (IA) (PDF)
Track 3. Land Use, Conservation and Stewardship
[back to top]Public Policy, Conservation and Stewardship
How can public policy encourage landowners and operators to improve farm and ranch conservation?
- Traci Bruckner, Center for Rural Affairs (NE) (PDF)
- Bob Wagner, American Farmland Trust (MA) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Chris West, Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust
Meeting Landlord and Tenant Conservation Interests
The best ideas for integrating conservation and stewardship into lease agreements.
- Mike Bell and Julie Keller, University of Wisconsin/Madison (PDF)
- Tom Buman, AGREN (IA) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Karl Kupers, Shepherd's Grain (WA)
- Denise O'Brien, Women, Food & Agriculture Network (IA) (PDF)
Land Trusts, Ag. Easements, Active Use and Conservation
Successful models for working land tenure from the land trust community.
- Jen Johnson, The Nature Conservancy (CO) (PDF)
- Ellie Kastanopolous, Equity Trust (MA)
- Bob Wagner, American Farmland Trust (MA)(PDF) (Presentation)
- Alex Wylie, Vermont Land Trust (PDF) (Presentation)
Non-farming Landowners, Land Use and Conservation
Farming opportunities and uses on Federal parkland, municipal open spaces, land trust land and intentional communities.
- Virginia Kasinki, Glynwood Center (NY) (PDF)
- Darwin Kelsey, Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy (OH) (PDF) (Presentation)
- Altfrid Krusenbaum (Krusen Grass Farm, WI) (PDF)
- Mike Sands, Prairie Crossing (IL) (PDF) (Presentation) (Brochure)
Land Use Rights and Legal Issues
Current hot topics such as wind energy leases.
- Scott Buchanan, Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor & Meis, (IA) (PDF)(PDF 2)(Presentation)
- Neil Hamilton, Drake Agricultural Law Center (IA)
- Frank Falen, Budd-Falen Law Offices (WY) (PDF)
The Cutting Edge on the Urban Edge
Creative opportunities to get onto farmland in metro and suburban areas.
- Douglas Jackson-Smith, Utah State University (PDF)(Final Report)(Presentation)
- Nevin Cohen, The New School (NY)(PDF)
- Ron Stewart, Boulder County (CO) (PDF)(Presentation)
Sponsors
[back to top]Many thanks to the following conference sponsors.
Lead Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Sponsors
Supporters
Last modified November 08 2012 12:33 PM