Farm transition pilot workshop on Aug. 13

SMITHFIELD, Va. — The Office of Farmland Preservation in the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced the first of several farm transition workshops to take place the summer of 2011 through the spring of 2012.
The first workshop will take place on Aug. 13 at the Isle of Wight Ruritan Club, 17011 Courthouse Hwy. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Information and registration details are available at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/preservation/workshop.shtml.
“We are concerned about the loss of working farmland in Virginia,” said VDACS Commissioner Matthew J. Lohr, “and we want to help our existing farmers set up a plan for a seamless transition from one generation to the next, and to keep our youth and young farmers engaged in farming. It’s complicated enough for anyone to make a smooth transition to the next generation, but it is especially complicated in farming because you are dealing with a lot of capital — land, buildings, equipment, livestock — but not necessarily a lot of liquid assets.”
Lohr, a fifth-generation farmer, says that, at 39, he is already thinking about assuming full responsibility of his family farm someday, as well as passing it on to his children.
He says he also sees a trend with new college graduates with degrees in crop science, agronomy, animal science or other agricultural fields who would love to farm but who don’t have land available to them.
“Sometimes the best transition is outside the family,” Lohr says, “so we also encourage what we call farm seekers to attend one of these workshops.”
He defines a farm seeker as someone who is serious about farming, who has some experience or a degree in an agricultural field, but who does not have family members likely to pass the farm on to them.
The morning agenda for the Aug. 13 workshop includes case studies that address farm transition issues and concerns, a facilitated session to help farm owners and farm seekers raise transition issues, an overview of legal and tax issues that will demonstrate effective ways to save money in the transition process and a session on loan information and financial options.
After a free lunch provided at the Ruritan Club, afternoon sessions include a session on the basics of developing effective lease agreements or contracts to protect the farm and assembling a team of transition professionals, and a panel offering real-world farm transition experiences from local farmers.
The workshops are free but participants need to register in advance.
For more information, contact contact Kevin Schmidt at: 804-786-1346 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .