AMES, Iowa – Farmers, rural appraisers, real estate brokers and others interested in Iowa’s land market have the opportunity to hear the latest from experts May 15, during the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Soil Management and Land Valuation Conference.
Now in its 92nd year, the oldest-running conference of its kind at Iowa State will be held in the Scheman Building on the Iowa State campus in Ames. Experts will tackle such issues as the 2018 farm bill, the ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations and the U.S. ag economy. A panel will discuss agricultural machinery and land prices, as well as ag financial conditions.
Conference speakers will also discuss the economic significance of the Iowa and U.S. beef industry, as well as key developments in agricultural technology and entrepreneurship.
“The conference offers networking opportunities for professionals who have an interest in agricultural land, land management and land valuation,” said Wendong Zhang, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State. “Additionally, participants have an opportunity through an online survey prior to the conference, to ‘gaze into their crystal balls’ and will be asked to provide their estimates of future land values in Iowa and corn and soybean prices.”
The survey had previously been done on paper, but Zhang said the online responses will be more efficient. Surveys should only take three minutes, and can still be completed at https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e5Vyg1J75ESlBE9.
The Iowa Appraiser Examining Board has approved the conference for six hours of continuing education. The Iowa Real Estate Commission has also approved six hours of continuing education for renewal of a real estate and broker’s license.
Participants should register as soon as possible and can do so online.
More information, including a full agenda, can be found on the conference website at https://register.extension.iastate.edu/smlv, or by calling Zhang at 515-294-2536.