Your land is more than an asset. It’s an opportunity, a responsibility, and often a legacy.
If you are a farmland landowner who cash rents your land to a farmer, or you are the farmer tenant, this column is for you. Purdue Extension is offering multiple learning opportunities for both parties to learn more about making solid and informed agreements.
Next Monday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., virtually log into our live Webinar “Land Leases and Tenant Relationships” from our Securing the Future Webinar Series. Recordings get posted online. Email or call me, Tricia Herr, to get registered for Monday’s free resource.
In October there will be a Land of Opportunity Conference — Oct. 5 in Wabash at the Honeywell Center, 275 W. Market St.; or Oct. 6 in Terre Haute at the Terre Haute Convention Center, 800 Wabash Ave.
Both conferences will be 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Eastern (Registration check in starts at 8:15 a.m.)
Purdue Extension is inviting everyone to attend Land of Opportunity: A Conference for Farmland Owners. The conference will feature keynote presentations, educational breakout sessions, and networking opportunities designed specifically for those who own, manage, or have an interest in farm and forest land at two regional locations, Wabash and Terre Haute.
Keynote speakers include Roger McEowen, Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation at Washburn University School of Law, and Howard Halderman, CEO/President of Halderman Farm Management Service and Halderman Real Estate Services. In his presentation, “So You Own Rural Land: What Legal and Tax Issues Do You Need to Know About?”, Roger will provide practical guidance on the legal and tax responsibilities that come with owning rural property. Howard’s presentation, “Where is Farmland Headed in the Fall of 2026? What is the Right Cash Rent for 2027?”, will examine the current state of the farmland market and the broader agricultural economy, highlighting the key factors driving farmland values and rental rates.
To conclude the conference, Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension Community Development Regional Educator, will present on the fundamentals of Indiana farmland property taxes. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how farmland is assessed and taxes, recent trends affecting tax bills, and key considerations for landowners seeking to effectively manage this important aspect of farmland ownership.
When registering, participants will have the opportunity to customize their conference experience by selecting the breakout sessions that best align with their interests and landownership goals. These interactive sessions will feature presentations from Purdue Extension Educators and Specialists, as well as industry professionals, and will provide ample time for questions and discussion. Whether you are interested in leasing arrangements, conservation practices, estate planning, taxes, or other topics impacting rural landowners, the breakout sessions offer practical information and expert guidance tailored to your needs.
Registration for Land of Opportunity: A Conference for Farmland Owners is $40, which includes a catered lunch and program materials. Note that the registration deadline is Sept. 18. Additional information as well as the registration web link is available at https://bit.ly/land-of-opportunity
The 2026 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rent Purdue Agricultural Economics Report (PAER) has been published. Paper copies are available for pickup in the Montgomery County Extension Office. This report shares farmland values, insights into the market and drivers of cost changes. This report also shares the results of the Cash Rent Survey. “Statewide cash rental rates for top quality land declined by 4.1% to $305 per acre. Rates also declined for average quality land by 1.4% to $260 per acre. On the other hand, cash rental rates for poor
quality land increased by 3.3% to $214 per acre. With the same caveats as farmland prices, cash rents varied across quality grades and regions.”
To see the cash rent rate survey results for West Central Indiana, come pick up a report.
The Master Gardener Class starts Sept. 10. If you would like to become an Extension Master Gardener in Montgomery County, please contact me, Tricia Herr, before Aug. 31. Applications are due Sept. 1, but exceptions can be made. Classes are Thursdays, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 through Dec. 10.
For more information about any of these programs, contact me, Tricia Herr, at the Montgomery County Purdue Extension Office, 765-364-6363, or email triciaherr@purdue.edu/.
Tricia Herr is the Montgomery County Extension Educator, Ag and Natural Resource.
