*This is the first in a series of posts written by Guidestone’s AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA member Gunnar Paulsen about Guidestone’s Colorado Land Link events forthcoming in March - the 2nd Annual Land Link Forum and Certified Farm Succession Training. Stay tuned to learn more about Farm Succession, Conservation Tools for Farm Succession Planning, and a Colorado Land Link success story.
I recently had a
chance to speak with Leland Swenson, keynote speaker for Guidestone’s 2nd Annual Land Link Forum, and ask him a few questions about the
role of Land Link programs in the farmland access puzzle in Colorado and
across the country. A lifelong agricultural advocate, Leland has held positions
including Executive Vice President of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, President
of the National Farmers Union, and is currently the State Executive Director of
the Colorado Farm Service Agency.
In addition to
that impressive list of leadership positions, Leland has held tenure on the
California FarmLink board of directors. Established in 1999, California
FarmLink is one of
the most accomplished Land Link programs in the country, assisting with upwards
of “125 successful leases, partnerships, and other arrangements tailored to the
needs of the landowners and growers.” Leland said of his time there that “we
were the only program out there helping with younger producers” and that
“California FarmLink became “the program that gained the support of the banking
interests and the Farm Service Agency and all its programs.” California
FarmLink now holds direct lender status from the Department of Corporations,
and provided 23 direct loans between $5,000 and $25,000 to small-scale farmers.
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| Leland Swenson |
I asked Leland
for his perspective on the role of Land Link considering the statistic widely
publicized by the University of Vermont’s FarmLASTS Project that 70% of
farmland, or approximately 400 million acres, is set to change hands within the
next 15 years: “Its exciting to see the Colorado Land Link Program continue to
grow and make connections with CSU Extension, and this growth comes at a very
important time when the age of farmers continues to climb.” Leland emphasized
how Land Link supports the core of rural communities, farmers, by helping them
find access to land and technical resources that will help them succeed. “It
really is an exciting time,” said Leland, citing national trends to support the
next generation, including USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s creation
of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, increased access
to community banks, and rural development assistance for agriculture.
When asked about
the Colorado Farm Service Agency’s role in assisting with farm transfer issues,
Leland highlighted that there are offices across the state where “producers can
go close to home to get advice and services they need from real people – from
people who live in those communities.” These services include farm loans,
commodity programs, and conservations. For a list of county offices, click here; and for a detailed list of CO FSA
programs click here.
If you’d like to
hear more from Leland, the 2nd Annual Land Link Forum presents a few
opportunities: join us for the whole event and hear Leland’s keynote address
“Preserving Colorado Agriculture” on Friday over dinner, then on Saturday join
the breakout session Leland will be leading, “Financing Opportunities for New
and Existing Farmers and Ranchers.” If you aren't able to join us for the
entire Forum, there are also registration options for
either Friday or Saturday. To learn more about the event and to
register, please click here.
