By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Farm finances, succession planning and farm policy were among the topics discussed during the Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Spring Conference.
The event, hosted by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) April 17-19 in Waco, gave farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals and college students the opportunity to network and learn from each other and industry experts.
“The YF&R Spring Conference helps facilitate networking and growth opportunities in our membership,” said Ryan Yeatts, chair of the YF&R Advisory Committee. “It gives young farmers, ranchers, ag professionals and college students knowledge they can take back to their businesses, their communities and their county Farm Bureaus to help strengthen agriculture.”
Featured presentations
A drone presentation and demonstration highlighted the growing role of unmanned aerial technology in agriculture. The session covered how drones can be used for crop scouting, field mapping and resource management and ended with a flight demonstration.
The participants received a legislative update from Texas Farm Bureau staff. The discussion covered recent policy developments, priorities identified through the organization’s grassroots policy process and what to expect as lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session.
“I appreciated the chance to better understand how Texas Farm Bureau’s policy process works and how those decisions connect back to what we face on our operations,” said Caul Smith, who raises sheep, goats and hay in Lampasas County.
Succession planning is extremely important for agriculture, especially as a large share of farmland and ranchland is expected to change hands in the coming years.
Most agricultural families realize the importance and the need for a succession plan for their farming legacy to continue, but very few families accomplish the goal of executing the succession plan, according to Oklahoma State University Professor Dr. Shannon Ferrell.
A study conducted by AgriLegacy found that only 20% of farm families have a succession plan in place and that only 5% of family farms will survive to the third generation without a plan.
“The sessions on financial and succession planning also stood out, especially the importance of starting those conversations early to help ensure the future of the farm or ranch,” Smith said.
The group also participated in breakout sessions on hedging and marketing commodities, county Farm Bureau involvement, and ag loans and grants available through the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Those sessions, combined with informal networking opportunities, gave attendees a chance to exchange ideas and learn from others facing similar challenges across the state.
“I think opportunities like this are invaluable,” Connor Cross, an ag lender from Nueces County, said. “It’s essential to get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, learn and try to think of ways to adapt your operation and grow.”
Collegiate Discussion Meet
The conference also featured the Collegiate Discussion Meet, where Nataly Taylor of Texas A&M University earned the top honor and will advance to represent TFB in the national contest next year.
Upcoming YF&R events
Upcoming YF&R activities include three regional meetings this summer and fall.
Fall Tour is scheduled for Sept. 11-13 in East Texas. Registration details will be announced this summer.
For more information on young farmer and rancher activities, visit texasfarmbureau.org/YFR or email youngfarmers@txfb.org.
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