VICTORIA – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the Ranchers Leasing Workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Victoria County 4-H Activity Center, 259 Bachelor Dr. in Victoria.
Presenters will be Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, and Dr. Greg Kaase, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist and risk management specialist.
“These programs are designed to be extremely practical, and we aim to send people home with ideas and tools they can use in their operations immediately to help improve their lease agreements and relationships,” she said. “More than 1,000 Texans have participated in these programs over the past two years, and 100% said they would recommend them to a friend.”
At the half-day program, participants will be able to ask questions and interact with attorneys and economists. It will focus specifically on grazing, hunting and livestock leases, including:
- The legal necessity for having leases in writing.
- Economic considerations in setting lease rates.
- Key terms to include in lease arrangements.
- Landowner liability considerations for landowners and tenants.
The registration fee is $50 per person and $80 per couple and includes lunch. To register, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/.
“Understanding all the options and parts of leasing agreements are an invaluable part of ranchers’ ability to make prudent financial decisions for their operation,” said Matt Bochat, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Victoria County.
Program objectives include exploring the potential economic and strategic benefits of incorporating leases into an operation; gaining a basic knowledge of contract law and common lease terminology; developing strategies to evaluate, negotiate and draft agricultural lease agreements; and learning the basics of landowner liability law and limited liability statutes.
Participants also receive a copy of the Ranchers’ Agricultural Leasing Handbook, which contains checklists and sample lease language.
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