Mary Sobba Ag Business Specialist (573)

Project Team Ag Business Specialists Mexico Nevada Edina Unionville Lancaster  Darla Campbell  Karisha Devlin  Joe Koenen  Wayne Prewitt  Mary Sobba

Need for Education  Confusion with other states  Many calls asking questions  Large number of verbal leases  Increase in acres rented  Value ($$$) of leases

Reality of Situation  # of Extension Specialists not increasing any time soon  New specialists still learning  Current specialists covering more counties – time is precious  Travel budgets tight

Methods of Teaching  Interactive TV - also called ITV  Skype and Adobe  Multiple sites  Ag Business Specialist at each site  Partnering with schools to use facilities  Multiple instructors

Advantages  Share Resources  Share Teaching load  Share Advertising  Share Paperwork / Reporting

Workshop Details  3 hour program  PowerPoints ea. site, so instructor could be seen  Handouts responsibility of ea. site  Fees collected at each sit ◦ $20 ea. or $30 / family

Topics Included  Current Cash Rent in Missouri and Trends  Specific Items to Include in a Lease  Terminating Farm Leases  Livestock / Crop Share Arrangements  Recreational Leases

Topic # 1 Current Cash Rent in Missouri and Trends  Traditional Rules of Thumb  Discussion of Crop Share Agreements  Land Values  Current Farm Rental Guides

Topic # 2 Specific Items to Include in a Lease  Five Essential Items ◦ Names & Descriptions ◦ Terms ◦ Rates & Arrangements ◦ Right of Entry ◦ Signature  Additional Recommended Items

Topic # 3 Terminating Farm Leases  Missouri has a written law on oral leases  Missouri is different than surrounding states  50% of Leases in Missouri are verbal  Details of how to terminate verbal leases.

Topic # 4 Livestock / Crop Share Arrangements  Common Share Agreements – who pays what  Advantages & Disadvantages  Incentives  Considerations – Death loss, disaster

Topic # 5 Recreational Leases  Hunting is Big Business - $975 m spent annually to rent hunting land  Fishing & Wildlife Watching is also a business  Liability Issues  Advantages & Disadvantages  Factors Determining a Lease Price

Evaluations  Short – one page  Future considering “clickers”  Ask if recommend to others  Knowledge gained  Actions they plan to take as a result of this program

Evaluations  98% recommend workshop to others  83% understand termination  83% understand leases are legal binding contracts  81% know where to find help and lease forms  Many plan to check leases to makes sure they have essential items.

Workshop Attendants  sessions  181 participants (12 sites)  session  46 participants (3 sites)  session  65 participants (5 sites)  session  53 participants (5 sites)  sessions  79 participants (5 sites) Total – 424

Technology Lessons Learned  Test connections beforehand  Share cell numbers for all sites  Various technology for sites – ITV, Skype, Adobe  Always have handouts in case technology fails.

Summary  Allow reaching small and remote audiences  Capitalize on knowledge and expertise of specialists  Participants positive about technology  Share teaching load  Plan to offer more in future!

Mary Sobba MU Extension Ag Business Specialist (573) Questions and Comments are welcomed.