Family Farm Forum
The Family Farm Forum, organized by CSREES’ Competitive Programs and Economic and Community Services units, takes place twice each year, each focusing on a key issue for family farms. Each forum consists of an Update, an electronic document which describes research and outreach on a particular issue, followed by a Web-based conference, or webinar, that promotes discussion and networking among agency partners. The Web conference also highlights successful programs, identifies relevant funding opportunities, and supports research, teaching, and outreach activities that focus on America’s family farms and ranches. The webinars are hosted by Iowa State Extension.
Farm Transitions-Exit, Entry and Planning.
The first Family Farm Forum, held in May, focused on farm transition. With the average age of farm and ranch operators increasing steadily for decades, there is concern that insufficient replenishment by younger operators may have a devastating effect on the nation’s family farms.
The Farm Transitions Update includes articles on succession and estate planning. Articles emphasize the problems of minority populations and approaches to solving these problems; how similar issues that face many of the nearly 11 million private woodland owners may affect huge areas of forestlands; and successful ways the Iowa State Beginning Farmer Center uses to address these problems, including the Web-based National Farm Transition Network.
Nearly 80 people from the land-grant system, community based organizations, and the private sector participated in the subsequent webinar. Agency staff and partners presented an overview of competitive funding opportunities, equal time was devoted to questions and discussions from all participants, and attendees were asked four polling questions so they could express their views on the forum’s focus. In addition, Kathy Ruhf (Land for Good) gave an overview of the newly funded FARMLasts project and other participants provided examples of projects and materials that can aid in planning for farm transition.
Attendee input established that the Family Farm Forum will include all family farms, and that “Local Food Systems” will be the topic of the fall forum, scheduled for October.
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