By Landee Kieschnick
TFB Communications Intern

Texas is a growing state and is experiencing frequent changes in rural land ownership. The same is happening across much of the nation.

Ten percent, about 93 million acres, of all land in farms is expected to be transferred during 2015-2019. About 6 percent will change hands through gifts, trusts or wills, according to the 2016 U.S. Farmland Ownership, Tenure and Transfer Report.

Many of these new landowners may have ties to farming and ranching through parents or grandparents, but have had careers in business, industry or other non-agricultural pursuits. Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Small Farm and Ranch Committee was established to help assist those new to owning land.

TFB recently launched the revamped Small Farm and Ranch resource page for all rural property owners who may have questions concerning property taxes, farm equipment, farm safety, direct marketing of agricultural goods, production practices, regulations and more.

“We’ve seen a lot of people retiring and buying small acreage in rural communities that really have no idea what they’re getting into,” Harold Wood, chairman of TFB’s Small Farm and Ranch Committee, said.

That’s where TFB’s website comes into play.

“There are a lot of resources available if you know where to look,” Jay Bragg, associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “The intent is for the Small Farm and Ranch page to serve as a one-stop shop for information for new landowners and beginning farmers and ranchers.”
The web page provides links to managerial and technical resources and will be updated regularly.

“A lot of new landowners that I know personally have never been involved in the rural country life. Sometimes mistakes are made on how to start out,” Wood said.

Existing small farmers or ranchers can also use this resource for new or updated information.

“I’ve been on this committee for many years now and there are resources and information on this site that I’m excited to have,” Wood said. “If we can get the information out there sufficiently to everyone, it will be a tremendous help.”

The page can be found at texasfarmbureau.org/advocacy/small-farm-ranch/.