Kansas State University/Washburn Law School Agribusiness Symposium

Introductions & Welcome

Terry Holdren
CEO and General Counsel, Kansas Farm Bureau

The Farm Financial Situation

Farm income bounced back in 2016 although roughly 2/3s of Net Farm Income was from Government payments. This discussion will look at the situation including early thoughts on where 2017 will be from a farm income perspective and the situation farmers face as they plan for 2018. Farm profit margins continue to be very tight although there have been opportunities to price crops during the summer of 2017.
Allen Featherstone,  Department Head, Agricultural Economics, Professor, Director of Master in Agribusiness Program, Kansas State University  

Regulation

This session focuses on the importance of contracts in the farming operation.
Ryan Flickner,  Senior Director, Advocacy Division, Kansas Farm Bureau

Break

Tax and Legal Considerations, Part One

The tax and associated legal issues arising from the wildfire in Kansas in early 2017; financial distress tax issues; wheat streak mosaic issues.
Roger McEowen,  Kansas Farm Bureau Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation, Washburn University School of Law

Weather

Understanding the frequency and variability of severe weather is critical to risk management. This session will look at the various types of severe weather, the frequency of the occurrence, and various tools to manage the risks associated with the events.
Mary Knapp,  Service Climatologist, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

Crop Insurance

Conditions when crop insurance does not cover the crop loss.
Art Barnaby, Jr.,  Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University  

Lunch

Rural Law Program 

An update on Washburn University School of Law's Rural Law Program.
Shawn Leisinger,  Centers for Excellence Executive Director, Externship Director, and CLE Director, Washburn University School of Law

Succession Planning

When people think of farm and ranch succession planning, they often think of the process of passing the assets of an estate to the next generation. That is a very important component of farm and ranch succession, but there are other very important components, too. Communication strategies, intergenerational and family dynamics, strategic planning, operations planning, financial feasibility, establishing a farm business structure, and determining how to transfer the work, management and leadership of the farm or ranch all also important issues. This session will examine these components of succession planning and suggest ways for you to organize your succession planning activities.

Greg Hadley, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University 

Tax Considerations, Part Two 

This session focuses on selected tax topics uniquely applicable to farming and ranching operations.

Roger McEowen

Interstate Water Disputes 

From Montana to Florida, a record number of states are currently litigating interstate water disputes before the Supreme Court; meanwhile, other states are seeking to resolve their own interstate water conflicts outside the courtroom. Both types of contests are raising important questions about the role of the federal government in water supply management, the increasing importance of groundwater supplies, and the relationship between interstate disputes and state water law. This presentation will survey the interstate disputes before the Supreme Court, settlements reached outside the Court, and provide some informed speculation about what these results might mean for Kansas.

Burke Griggs,  Associate Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law

Producer Panel 

Various producers discuss the issues they face and the value of lawyers/economists and other professionals to their business.

Adjourn