2016 September Seminars: Navigating Changing Times

Quality Inn & Suites, Ames, Iowa

  • Ag Law Seminar, September 8 (cosponsored with the Iowa State Bar Association and Iowa Farm Bureau)
    • Our Thursday seminar will offer practical, interesting information you can immediately apply in your practice or ag-related business. You’ll leave with forms and other tools to help you more efficiently serve your ag clients.
  • Farm Tax Workshop, September 9
    • Our Friday seminar will be a comprehensive one-day farm tax workshop designed to equip tax practitioners with the tools they need to prepare farm income tax returns, from the simple to the complex.

> Download form to purchase materials (mail or fax payment): 2016 Sept Seminars - Registration Form.pdf

Agenda: 

Ag Law Seminar, September 8 

Download PDF of agenda: Ag Law Seminar Agenda.pdf

  • 7:30 AM - REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN - The seminar will take place at the Quality Inn & Suites, 2601 E. 13th Street, Ames, Iowa or via Live Webinar
    • Your registration fee includes seminar materials (electronic materials for those attending online), continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, and lunch.
  • 8:00 AM - ENTITY PLANNING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES - This session will provide practical guidance on assisting rural landowners and farm producers with entity planning issues.
    • Speaker: Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University
  • 9:30 AM -  BANKRUPTCY BACKWATERS: DEBT COLLECTION AND OTHER FINANCIAL IMPAIRMENT ISSUES - This session will cover common legal issues arising during tough financial times. The focus will be on farm producers and those doing business with them.
    • Speaker: Pat Dillon, Dillon Law P.C.
  • 10:30 AM - BREAK
     
  • 10:45 AM -  LIVESTOCK UPDATE: AG NUISANCE SUITS AND MANURE EASEMENTS - This session will review the latest in ag nuisance law suits, as well as provide practical guidance on assisting clients with manure easement issues.
    • Speakers: Eldon McAfee, Erin Herbold-Swalwell, & Julia Vyskocil, Brick Gentry P.C.
  • 11:45 AM - LUNCH
     
  • 12:30 PM - CURRENT ISSUES IN ENFORCING AGRICULTURAL LIENS AND FARM LEASES - This session will provide strategies for attorneys assisting clients in enforcing agricultural liens and collecting farm lease payments.
    • Speakers: Eldon McAfee, Erin Herbold-Swalwell, & Julia Vyskocil, Brick Gentry P.C.
  • 1:15 PM - LEGAL UPDATE ON WATER QUALITY AND OTHER HOT AGRICULTURAL LAW TOPICS - This session will review the latest court cases, legislation, and regulations impacting agricultural producers and agribusinesses.
    • Speaker: Kristine Tidgren, ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation
  • 2:00 PM - LAND TENURE AND FARM TRANSITIONS: AVOIDING INTRA-FAMILY CONFLICTS IN FARM SUCCESSION PLANNING - This session will focus on the changing nature of land tenure in Iowa and lessons we can learn from court cases involving intra-family fights over land transition becoming more common in the Upper Midwest.
    • Speakers: Neil Hamilton, Drake University Law School & John Baker, ISU’s Beginning Farmer Center
  • 3:00 PM - BREAK
     
  • 3:15 PM - IOWA’S 2016 AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFORM FRAUDULENT TRANSFER ACT: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO THEY MAKE - This session reviews the changes HF 2400 made to Iowa Code ch 684, the Iowa Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, and how those changes impact ag-related clients.
    • Speaker: Keith Duffy, Nyemaster Goode, P.C.
  • 4:00 PM - TRANSITIONING A RURAL LEGAL PRACTICE: THE ETHICS OF CHANGE - This session, which qualifies for one-hour of ethics CLE, will review ethical issues implicit in transitioning a rural legal practice to a new attorney. The session will also cover Iowa’s new Court Rule 39.18 requiring all solo practice attorneys to have a succession plan in place by January 1, 2017.
    • Speaker: Jennifer Zwagerman, Drake University Law School
  • 5:00-6:30 PM - MEET AND GREET RECEPTION - We hope you’ll plan to stay for a complimentary reception, where you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy appetizers, drinks, and the company of other seminar attendees.
    • Reception Sponsored by Drake University Law School Agricultural Law Center and Drake University Career Development Office

Farm Tax Workshop, September 9

Download PDF of agenda: Farm Tax Workshop Agenda.pdf

*All attendees will receive the 2016 edition of Philip Harris’ comprehensive 200+ page workbook, Agricultural Tax Issues. It’s a tremendous desktop resource for anyone who prepares farm tax returns.
**All sessions taught by Philip Harris, unless otherwise noted. Scheduled topics are subject to change.

  • 7:30 AM - REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN - The seminar will take place at the Quality Inn & Suites, 2601 E. 13th Street, Ames, Iowa or via Live Webinar
    • Your registration fee includes seminar materials (electronic materials for those attending online), continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, and lunch.
  • 8:00 AM - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - This session will review the PATH Act of 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, and the tax consequences flowing from each.
     
  • 9:00AM - INCOME ISSUES
    • Constructive Receipt
    • Installment Sales of Livestock
    • Hedging and Other Marketing Transactions
    • Farm Income Averaging
    • Farm vs. Non-Farm Income
    • Easements
    • Sale v. Lease of Equipment by Retiring Farmer
    • CRP Payments
    • Income in Respect of a Decedent
    • Reporting Property as Self-rental on Schedule E, Form 1040
  • 10:30 AM - BREAK
     
  • 10:45 AM - DEDUCTION ISSUES
    • Tangible Property Regulations
    • Lease v. Purchase of Farm Equipment
    • Segregating Fertilizer Costs
    • Domestic Production Activity Deduction
    • Start Up Expenses
  • 11:45 AM - LUNCH
     
  • 12:30 PM - IRS ISSUES UPDATE - In this session, Kristy updates preparers on IRS issues impacting tax filings.
    • Speaker: Kristy Maitre, ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation
  • 1:15 PM - ENTITY ISSUES
    • Partnership Formation and Contributed Assets with Debt in Excess of Tax Basis
    • Guaranteed Payments
    • Qualified Joint Ventures
    • Issues for Farmers with Multiple Entities
  • 2:00 PM - MISCELLANEOUS FARM ISSUES
    • Material Participation
    • Capitalization of Preproduction Expenses
    • Farm Inventory
    • Hobby Losses
    • Gift of Commodities
    • Valuation of Growing Crops
  • 3:00 PM - BREAK
     
  • 3:15 PM - CASES AND RULINGS - This session provides a summary of key rulings and cases from the past year that impact farmers’ tax returns.
     
  • 4:00 PM - FARM TAX ETHICS - This session, which qualifies for one-hour of ethics CPE, will cover ethical issues commonly facing farm tax practitioners.
    • Speaker: Kristy Maitre, ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation
Continuing Education: 

Ag Law Seminar (September 8)

This course is designed for:

  • Attorneys
    • Activity #: 236174 (Standard/Live) - Approved for 7.5 hours (including 1 hour of ethics) of CLE with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
    • Activity #: 236175 (Live Webcast) - Approved for 7.5 hours (including 1 hour of ethics) of CLE with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
    • Federal CLEs with United States District Court (Southern District of Iowa) - Approved for 5.25 Federal CLE hours
    • MN Board Of Continuing Legal Education - applied for CLEs - approval is pending
    • Nebraska Mandatory Continuing Legal Education - approved for 6.75 hours of CLE (includes 1 hour of Professional Responsibility) 
  • Certified Public Accountants
    • 9 hours of CPE
  • Real Estate Professionals (Iowa Real Estate Commission)
    • Approved for 8 hours of CPE

450 minutes of instruction
Total CPE/CLE Credits: 9 (includes 1 hour of ethics) - (based on 1.0 credit hour per 50 minutes of instruction)
Total CPE/CLE Credits: 7.5 (includes 1 hour of ethics) - (based on 1.0 credit hour per 60 minutes of instruction)

Farm Tax Workshop (September 9)

This course is designed for:

  • Other Tax Return Preparers (IRS - RPO Continuing Education)
    • Ethics - Approved for 1 hour - Y7WRM-E-00167-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-E-00167-16-O (online)
    • Federal Tax - Approved for 5 hours - Y7WRM-T-00166-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-T-00166-16-O (online)
    • Tax Updates - Approved for 3 hours - Y7WRM-U-00165-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-U-00165-16-O (online)   
  • Enrolled Agents (IRS - RPO Continuing Education)
    • Ethics - Approved for 1 hour - Y7WRM-E-00167-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-E-00167-16-O (online)
    • Federal Tax - Approved for 5 hours - Y7WRM-T-00166-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-T-00166-16-O (online)
    • Tax Updates - Approved for 3 hours - Y7WRM-U-00165-16-I (in-person) and Y7WRM-U-00165-16-O (online)   
  • Certified Public Accountants
    • 9 hours of CPE
  • Certified Financial Planners (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards)
    • Approved for 9 hours of credit - Program ID: 229632
  • Attorneys - Please contact CALT if requesting CLEs from Minnesota or Nebraska
    • Activity #: 236176 (Standard/Live) - Approved for 7.5 hours (including 1 hour of ethics) of CLE with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
    • Activity #: 236177 (Live Webcast) - Approved for 7.5 hours (including 1 hour of ethics) of CLE with the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education
    • Federal CLEs with United States District Court (Southern District of Iowa) - Approved for 7.75 Federal CLE hours
    • MN Board Of Continuing Legal Education - applied for CLEs - approval is pending
    • Nebraska Mandatory Continuing Legal Education - approved for 7.0 hours of CLE (includes 1 hour of Professional Responsibility) 
  • Real Estate Professionals (Iowa Real Estate Commission)
    • Approved for 8 hours of CPE
  • Insurance Professionals (Iowa Insurance Division)
    • Approved for 7 hours of CPE

450 minutes of instruction
Total CPE/CLE Credits: 9 (includes 1 hour of ethics) - (based on 1.0 credit hour per 50 minutes of instruction)
Total CPE/CLE Credits: 7.5 (includes 1 hour of ethics) - (based on 1.0 credit hour per 60 minutes of instruction)

Please note: For those that are licensed (outside of the state of Iowa) by state boards/organizations should check with their respective boards/organizations to determine if credit applies toward continuing education requirements.  CALT does not apply for CPE in other states, but will we assist in the process to make sure you receive your CPE credits.

Speakers: 
  • John Baker is an attorney and the administrator for the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State University. He has authored many publications and conducted many seminars on the topic of farm succession planning. John is also the chairman of the International Farm Transition Network.
  • Pat Dillon is an attorney, farmer, and former Army officer. He practices law at Dillon Law PC, in Sumner, Iowa, and writes and speaks on a number of agricultural law topics. Pat received his B.S. in agricultural studies from Iowa State University and his J.D. from Drake University. He serves on the AALA Board of Directors and is the current chairman of the ISBA’s Agricultural Law Section.
  • Keith Duffy is a member of the Litigation Department at Nyemaster Goode PC. Prior to joining Nyemaster Goode, Keith served as a law clerk to Justice Bruce Zager of the Iowa Supreme Court and the Hon. James E. Gritzner of the Southern District of Iowa. Keith earned his law degree with highest honors from Drake University Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.
  • Shannon Ferrell is an attorney and associate professor at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Agricultural Economics. He frequently speaks and writes about agricultural law issues—with a particular emphasis on energy, environmental, and estate planning—and has served on the AALA Board of Directors for the past four years. Shannon received his M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State and his J.D. from Oklahoma City University.
  • Neil Hamilton is an Emeritus Professor of Law and the Emeritus Director for the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University. He has taught agricultural law for more than 30 years and has written more than four dozen law review articles and several books on food and agricultural law issues. Each year, Professor Hamilton is a visiting professor at the agricultural law graduate program at the University of Arkansas.
  • Philip Harris is an attorney and long-time professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has written tax course materials and taught tax courses for 37 years. Professor Harris has long coauthored the National Income Tax Workbook, used by more than 30,000 tax practitioners throughout the United States. Additionally, he writes an annual edition of Agricultural Tax Issues and lectures around the country on agricultural tax issues.
  • Erin Herbold-Swalwell is a shareholder with Brick Gentry P.C. practicing primarily in the areas of agricultural law, estate planning, and business succession planning. Prior to joining the private practice of law, Erin was the Staff Attorney at ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation. Raised on a family farm near Mingo, Iowa, Erin continues to be involved with farming and agriculture. She has served as chair of the ISBA’s Agricultural Law Section. 
  • Kristy Maitre is the tax specialist at ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation. Prior to joining CALT, Kristy worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 27 years. Before retiring from the IRS in 2014, Kristy was serving as the IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison for the State of Iowa. At CALT, Kristy conducts frequent webinars and seminars on a variety of tax topics. She also instructs practitioners through her writings on TaxPlace and her free bi-weekly webinar, The Scoop: Hot Issues from the Front Lines.
  • Eldon McAfee is a shareholder with Brick Gentry P.C. He was raised on a farm near Atlantic, Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University in Farm Operations. He farmed for 10 years, dairying first near Solon, then by North English, Iowa. Utilizing his farm experience, he went to Drake University Law School in the agricultural law program. Since graduation in 1991 Eldon’s law practice has focused on agricultural law and he is now recognized as one of Iowa’s preeminent attorneys, authors and presenters in matters concerning agricultural law.
  • Kristine Tidgren is the assistant director of ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation. She analyzes and writes about legal developments impacting agricultural producers and practitioners. She has taught agricultural law to undergraduate
    students at ISU and is a frequent speaker on ag and tax law topics. Kristine received her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and her B.A. from Iowa State University.
  • Julie Vyskocil is a shareholder with Brick Gentry P.C. She was born and raised on a dairy and cash crop farm in Michigan where her family continues to farm today. She attended law school at Drake University where she earned her Food and Agricultural Law Certificate. Since graduation from Drake Law School in 2008, she has focused her practice primarily on agricultural law and estate planning for farmers and those involved in the agricultural industry.
  • Jennifer Zwagerman is the Associate Director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University and the Director of Career Development at Drake University
    Law School. She received her J.D. from Drake University and her L.L.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Jennifer teaches food and agricultural law classes at the Law School. She is a member of the AALA Board of Directors, the Agricultural Law Section Council of the Iowa State Bar Association, and the Rural Practice Committee.
Registration: 

Materials are available to purchase:

Ag Law Seminar

  • Manual - $55
  • Manual and electronic version of manual (PDF) - $65
  • Electronic version of manual (PDF) - $30

Farm Tax Workshop

  • Workbook/Manual - $55
  • Workbook/Manual and electronic version of manual (PDF) - $65
  • Electronic version of manual (PDF) - $30

QUESTIONS: Contact Tiffany at 515-294-5217 or tlkayser@iastate.edu

Date and Time: 
Thursday, September 8, 2016 - 8:00am to Friday, September 9, 2016 - 4:00pm
Location: 
Ames, Iowa and Online
Accommodations: