EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023

Ag Bytes
beginning farmers when incentivized with
federal and state tax credits.
“At the same time, over half of Iowa
landowners expressed concerns about
difficulty finding quality beginning farmers
as well as beginning farmers’ ability to pay
the best prices for land,” Tong said.
The recent survey also reveals changing
trends in how ownership of Iowa’s farmland
is held. In 1982, 80% of Iowa’s farmland
was owned through a combination of sole
ownership and joint tenancy; however,
those now only account for 52% of Iowa
farmland ownership. Meanwhile, the
amount of farmland held in trusts has skyrocketed
from 1% in 1982 to 23% today.
“Trusts have grown in popularity due to
their numerous benefits. Particularly for
farmland owners, trusts can ensure the
preservation of the farm within the family,
manage land transitions, and potentially
provide tax benefits, making them a valuable
tool in succession planning,” Zhang
said.
The percentage of farmland owned
debt-free has also continued to increase –
84% of Iowa farmland is held without any
debt, the highest level observed. This represents
a steady and significant increase
from 1982, a year that marked the onset
of the farm debt crisis, when only 62% of
the land was held without debt. Tong said
that some of that recent increase is due
to the hike in commodity profits, aging
landowners coupled with longer lengths
of ownership, and government payments
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zhang said that the survey also found
interesting trends in the use of conservation
techniques on Iowa farmland. He
noted that no-till farming saw a significant
increase from 21% of owners and 27% of
acres in 2017 to 29% and 30%, respectively,
in 2022.
“The use of cover crops also saw a
slight increase over this period, from 5%
of owners and 4% of acres in 2017 to 7%
for both owners and acres in 2022,” he
said.
However, only 2% of Iowa landowners
have already participated in a carbon
credit program and another 3% are considering
doing so, but, Zhang said, “most
landowners are either not interested or
have never heard of them.”
More information about the 2022 Iowa
Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey
results can be found on the CARD website
at card.iastate.edu/.
What makes a quality
carbon credit?
Alejandro Plastina, ISU extension
economist and associate professor,
answers four questions that are key for
buyers when determining the quality
(and the price they are willing to pay)
for carbon credits. Additional practices,
permanence, verified protocols, and
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