By Wendong Zhang – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
AMES, Iowa — Record commodity prices, farm inputs and land values are topics that will drive discussions at the 94th Annual Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference on May 18 in Ames.
Iowa’s average farmland acreage increased nearly 30% last year, according to results from the Iowa State University Land Values Survey, released in November. Many variables continue to change in today’s agricultural landscape and will be part of the discussion.
This year’s conference will be offered in person at Iowa State University’s Scheman Building from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as virtually via Zoom. The in-person registration fee is $150 and the virtual option is $175.
“This year’s program will examine several topical issues in rural property management, valuation, sale and purchase, and agricultural policy,” said Wendong Zhang, associate professor of economics and economist. of extension at Iowa State. “We brought together a dozen soil management and land evaluation professionals to solve these problems.
Half a dozen current issues and their implications for soil management and land development will be addressed. Topics include the outlook for the U.S. and global agricultural economy, a panel discussion on farmland and equipment values, weather forecasts and their impacts on agricultural production, soaring fertilizer and other inputs, a roundtable on conservation easements and land trusts, and a crop-focused agricultural market outlook.
The conference provides networking opportunities for professionals with an interest in agricultural land, land management and land valuation. Additionally, attendees have the opportunity, through an online pre-conference survey, to “peek into their crystal balls” and will be asked to provide their estimates of future land values in Iowa and corn prices. and soy via an online survey distributed ahead of the conference.
Sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University and ISU Extension and Outreach, the Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference is for farm managers, rural appraisers, real estate brokers and others interested in the Iowa land market.
It is Iowa State’s longest-running research and extension conference, and 2022 will mark the 94th annual meeting in this series. The conference is for anyone interested in agricultural land, land management and land valuation. The program is planned annually by the ISU Extension Economics and Outreach Team within the Iowa State Department of Economics.
Participants may receive 6.5 hours of Real Estate Appraiser Continuing Education Credits from the Iowa Real Estate Commission and 7 hours of Appraiser Continuing Education Credits from the Real Estate Appraiser Examining Board. There will also be three $50 gift card redemption opportunities for attendees throughout the day.
Other presenters from Iowa State include Chad Hart, professor of economics and grain markets specialist and Bobby Martens, associate professor and agricultural supply chain specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
Register online at https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/smlv/register/.
For any questions regarding the content of the conference, contact Wendong Zhang at 515-294-2536 or [email protected].