Farmland owners conference coming

Many moving pieces go into owning land. Ownership can often create questions and become stressful and overwhelming for the inheritor, purchaser, farmer, renter, families, and anyone involved. 

To assist with alleviating doubts about land ownership, University of Illinois Extension is bringing back the Farmland Owners Conference. The one-day event is designed to empower current and future farmland owners and will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 25 at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby.

“There is a lot that goes into owning farmland, even if you are not the one working the land,” says Emily Hansen, conference co-organizer and commercial agriculture educator at Illinois Extension. “Landowners face their own unique set of challenges and opportunities.”

Hansen shares that the conference is a chance for landowners to gain valuable knowledge and insights from university and industry experts on a wide range of topics critical to their success in an approachable, straightforward way. 

Conference presentation and discussion topics include: 

• Negotiating cash rent.

• Understanding current land values and appraisals.

• Soil fertility: Protecting your investment.

• Solar energy on your land.

• Maintaining profits while protecting the environment.

• Types of insurance you need for your farm.

• Navigating Farm Service Agency forms and requirements.

• Estate planning.

• Organic production.

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“A lot of Illinois landowners have bits and pieces of it, but they don’t have the whole thing,” said Kevin Brooks, conference co-organizer and farm business management and marketing educator at Illinois Extension. “The conference helps bring it all together.”

Brooks mentioned that when planning the conference for another year, it was important to include speakers and topics that would benefit a range of attendees. This includes farmers who are tenants, as well as family members of the farmers and landowners who are new to the family and world of agriculture.

The conference offers a valuable opportunity for landowners to connect with industry professionals, peers, and potential partners. Attendees will walk away with the knowledge needed to manage and maintain their land, develop strong working relationships with tenants and farmers, and confidently plan out the future legacy of their land.

Registration fee is $65 and covers all presentations, refreshments, and lunch by Nov. 20 at go.illinois.edu/Landowner2024.

For questions or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Emily Hansen at emhansen@illinois.edu or 815-224-0896. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.