2017 September Seminars

Thursday, September 21 - Agricultural Law Seminar: Cosponsored by Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, the Agricultural Section of the Iowa State Bar Association and Iowa Farm Bureau - This seminar will address key issues arising during uncertain financial times. Topics will include the current agricultural economic climate and practical tools to assist clients, whether they are producers, creditors, or agricultural businesses. We will also cover hot topics in agricultural law, environmental issues, and more. The day will include a number of expert speakers and panelists, as well as an hour of ethics credit.

Friday, September 22 - Agricultural Business and Tax Planning Seminar: Transferring the closely-held business can be challenging. This session is designed to explain how to take advantage of the partnership structure to both build the net worth of the younger generation while providing for the comfortable exit of the older generation. A case study (including federal tax forms) will be used throughout the session. The session will cover an overview of partnership taxation (including limited liability companies taxed as partnerships). Topics will include tracking basis, various debt issues and transactions between partners and the partnership; a review of gifting and sale of partnership interests; the use of guaranteed payments to shift income as well as to reward extra effort and capital contributions; a discussion of exit strategies with a focus on the retiring partner provisions afforded to partnerships under IRC §736, and much more! We will also look at top estate planning dangers for agricultural clients and conclude the day with an hour of ethics credit.

Quality Inn & Suites, Ames, Iowa or join us for a Live Webinar!  8 AM  to 4:30 PM (each day)

► Registration is now available!

Agenda: 

► Agricultural Law Seminar - Thursday, September 21

  • A Look at the Current Agricultural Economic Climate: Hear the latest update on land values, cash rents, and the agricultural economic forecast.
    • Alejandro Plastina, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University
    • Wendong Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University
  • An Update on Iowa Agricultural Liens: This session will review key issues related to Iowa’s statutory agricultural liens.
    • Charles Smith, J.D., Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP
    • Nicole Hughes, J.D., Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP
  • Representing the Financially Stressed Agricultural Client: This session will look at key issues that must be considered when working with financially distressed clients, including bankruptcy considerations.
    • Joe Peiffer, J.D., Peiffer Law Office, P.C.
  • Representing the Agricultural Creditor: This session will explore important considerations for agricultural lenders and suppliers, including some best practices for loan workouts and enforcement.
    • Thomas Ashby, J.D., Baird Holm, LLP
  • Agricultural Mediation in Iowa: This session will cover Iowa’s mandatory farm mediation requirements, as well as practical suggestions for navigating a successful mediation.
    • Kiley Mars, Executive Director, Iowa Mediation Service
  • Financial Distress Panel: The above speakers will field questions and discuss issues important to the audience.
     
  • A Year in Review: In this session, we’ll review key legal developments impacting agricultural clients during the previous year. 
    • Kristine Tidgren, J.D., Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation
  • A Review of CAFO Permitting: This session will review the requirements of CAFO permitting under the Clean Water Act.
    • Ed Tormey, J.D., General Counsel, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Drainage & Wetlands: This session will cover drainage and wetlands issues encountered by rural landowners.
    • Eldon McAfee, J.D., Brick Gentry P.C.
    • Erin Herbold-Swalwell, J.D., Brick Gentry P.C.
  • The Ethics of Succession: This session will review ethical issues in planning for succession, disability, and retirement.
    • Nicholas (Tre) Critelli, III, J.D., Director, Office of Professional Regulation (Iowa Judicial Branch)

​​► Agricultural Business & Tax Planning Seminar - Friday, September 22, 2017

  • Business Succession Planning for Agricultural Clients
    • Transferring the closely-held business can be challenging. This session is designed to explain how to take advantage of the partnership structure to both build the net worth of the younger generation while providing for the comfortable exit of the older generation. Along the way, the Internal Revenue Code has placed a few land mines but also some nuggets of gold. The goal is to provide an effective road-map to increase the after-tax wealth of your clients. A case study (including federal tax forms) will be used throughout the session.
    • The session will cover:
    1. An overview of partnership taxation (including limited liability companies taxed as partnerships). Topics will include tracking basis, various debt issues and transactions between partners and the partnership.
    2. A review of gifting and sale of partnership interests – opportunities but also limitations and pitfalls.
    3. The use of guaranteed payments to shift income as well as to reward extra effort and capital contributions.
    4. The need to maintain market value capital accounts along the way to chart progress. In many instances, the IRS requires capital accounts to be maintained; however, these capital accounts do not tell the family very much about who owns what, how they got there, and what they can do to change course.
    5. What the Internal Revenue Code provides in terms of granting a profits interest and then present in detail how this tool can be used to reward the younger generation. An effective transfer strategy requires a profitable business, good records (including an accurate market value balance sheet), the maintenance of capital accounts, and a tax return and operating agreement that ties it all together.
    6. A discussion of exit strategies with a focus on the retiring partner provisions afforded to partnerships under IRC §736.  
    • Speaker: Gregory J. Bouchard
      • Greg is the Director of the Cornell Income Tax Schools, which provide tax training to professionals across New York State. Greg was employed for over 40 years by Farm Credit East. As a Senior Business Consultant, he was instrumental in developing the tax training and operating procedures for the tax preparation and consulting services they provide. Greg is a regular contributor to the Land Grant University Tax Education Foundation’s (LGUTEF) National Income Tax Workbook and serves on the LGUTEF board of directors.  
  • Top Five Estate Planning Dangers
    • This session will review five common dangers estate planners should avoid when representing rural clients:
    1. Joint revocable trusts.   
    2. Transfer-on-death (TOD) bank accounts and joint tenancy with beneficiaries.   
    3. Inappropriate planning for Medicaid eligibility.   
    4. Power of attorney.
    5. Fair does not always mean equal.   
    • Speaker: David M. Repp, J.D., Dickinson Mackaman Tyler & Hagen, PC
  • Ethical Issues for Tax Professionals
    • This session provides an overview of hot button issues the Office of Professional Responsibility is concerned with in a tax professional’s practice, including conflict of interest, due diligence and competence. 
    • Speaker: Kristy Maitre, EA, Tax Specialist, Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation

Schedule (each day):
Registration/Sign-In: 7:30 - 8:00 AM
Morning Session: 8:00 AM - Noon
Lunch: Noon to 12:45 PM
Afternoon Session: 12:45 - 4:30 PM

Continuing Education: 

Agricultural Law Seminar - September 21, 2017

  • This seminar is designed for: attorneys, CPAs, Real Estate Professionals and Agri-Business Professionals
    • Attorneys: Approved for 7.25 hours of CLEs (including 1 hour of ethics) with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
      • Standard/Live - Activity # 267030
      • Live Webcast - Activity # 267031
      • For Nebraska and Minnesosta - please contact at Tiffany at tlkayser@iastate.edu if you would like CLEs from these states
      • Federal CLEs: Approved for 5.75 hours by the IAND/IASD Continuing Legal Education
    • Real Estate Professionals: Approved for 8 hours of CPE with the Iowa Real Estate Commission
    • CPAs: 
      • Iowa - The Iowa Accountancy Examining Board does not pre-approve seminars, but it is left to the individual to determine the appropriate course of study.
      • Other states - Consult your state’s accrediting agency/board for its rules on admissibility of this course. It is the responsibility of the attendee to understand and comply with state licensing CPE requirements.
  • 435 minutes of instruction
  • 8.7 hours of CPE (including 1 hour of ethics)
  • 7.25 hours of CLE (including 1 hour of ethics)

Agricultural Business and Tax Planning Seminar - September 22, 2017

  • This seminar is designed for: Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Enrolled Agents (EA), Public Accountants (PA), Tax Practitioners, Annual Filing Season Program practitioners (AFSP), Attorneys, Insurance Professionals and Real Estate Professionals
  • 435 minutes of instruction
  • 8.7 hours of CPE (including 1 hour of ethics)
  • 7.25 hours of CLE (including 1 hour of ethics)
  • Consult your state’s accrediting agency/board for its rules on admissibility of this course. It is the responsibility of the attendee to understand and comply with state licensing CPE requirements.
  • Attorneys: Approved for 7.25 CLEs (including 1 hour of ethics) with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
    • Standard/Live: Activity #267011
    • Live Webcast: Activity #267010
      • For Nebraska and Minnesosta - please contact at Tiffany at tlkayser@iastate.edu if you would like CLEs from these states
    • Federal CLEs: Approved for 7.25 hours by the IAND/IASD Continuing Legal Education
  • Real Estate Professionals: Approved for 8 hours of CPE with the Iowa Real Estate Commission
  • CPAs: 
    • Iowa - The Iowa Accountancy Examining Board does not pre-approve seminars, but it is left to the individual to determine the appropriate course of study.
    • Other states: Please consult your state’s accrediting agency/board for its rules on admissibility of this course. 
  • Enrolled Agents (EA), Annual Filing Season Program practitioners (AFSP) and Other Tax Return Preparers:
    • Approved for 7 hours of federal law tax law
      • In-Person: Y7WRM-T-00212-17-I
      • Online: Y7WRM-T-00212-17-O
    • Approved for 1 hour of ethics 
      • In-Person: Y7WRM-E-00211-17-I
      • Online: Y7WRM-E-00211-17-O
  • Insurance Professionals: Approved for 7 hours of CPE by the Iowa Insurance Division
Registration: 

Download the form: Registration Form - 2017 September Seminars.pdf

Unable to Attend? Take advantage of the our OnDemand Video Replay and Downloadable e-Materials. This is a self-paced online program that allows you to take the course at your own convenience.  No continuing education is available for this option. You will receive an email that will include access to the video replay and materials (manual and powerpoint presentation in PDF format) during the week of September 25-29.  There is no time limit to view the on-demand video replay and you can view it unlimited times. 

  • Ag Law Seminar  $200
  • Ag Business & Tax Planning Seminar  $200
  • Both Seminars  $350

Unable to attend?  Materials are available to purchase:

  • $55 - Ag Law Seminar Manual
  • $55 - Ag Business & Tax Planning Seminar Manual
  • $30 - Ag Law Electronic Materials (PDF of the manual)
  • $30 - Ag Business & Tax Planning Electronic Materials (PDF of the manual)
  • $65 - Ag Law Manual & Electronic Materials
  • $65 - Ag Business & Tax Planning Manual & Electronic Materials
Date and Time: 
Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 12:30pm to Friday, September 22, 2017 - 12:30pm
Location: 
Ames, Iowa and Online
Accommodations: 

Quality Inn and Suites, 2601 E. 13th Street, Ames, Iowa. Discounted overnight rooms are available (for the dates of September 20 and 21). Call the hotel at 515-232-9260 and mention you are attending the Iowa State University September Seminars.