Lease agreements, estate planning, fence laws to be covered
NACOGDOCHES – An Ag Law in the Field program, which will cover lease agreements, estate planning and fence laws, will be held Sept. 17 in Nacogdoches.
The program is free and open to the public. It begins with registration and meal at 5:30 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6 p.m. at the Nacogdoches Expo Center, 3805 NW Stallings Drive.
RSVPs are requested by Sept. 10 by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Nacogdoches County at 903-560-7711.
Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural law specialist, Amarillo, will discuss the do’s and don’ts of lease agreements and why they are important for landowners and producers. She will also cover a difficult but necessary topic – estate planning.
Lashmet will also discuss fence laws and cover aspects including liability questions, such as who is liable if a cow gets out and is hit on the highway, or neighbor responsibilities regarding fence maintenance and other real-world scenarios.
East Texas is one of the largest cow/calf production regions in the state, and land leases are an important part of ranching, said Ricky Thompson, AgriLife Extension agent, Nacogdoches County. Leased land provides grazing and hay production potential for producers and income for landowners, and agreements ensure both parties’ interests are protected.
“We utilize a lot of pastureland and lease property to run cattle,” he said. “I often get calls and concerns from either a landowner or a leaser wanting advisement. I always start this conversation with the best lease agreement, regardless of price, is when both parties are happy.
“Some of the worst disputes I’ve seen were between a landowner and lessee. This program will cover a variety of points often overlooked within agreements and offer residents access to a leading professional on the topic.”
Thompson said estate planning is another often overlooked necessity for agriculture families.
“It can be a daunting and sometimes ugly task for a family to sort out an estate after a loved one passes,” he said. “It’s better to plan ahead and have a clear picture of how an operation, land or assets will be handled once they are gone.”
For more information, contact Thompson at 903-560-7711 or ricky.thompson@ag.tamu.edu .