Mission Objectives

Mission and Objectives

Mission

The Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University was created by the Iowa Board of Regents in 2006. It is a unit of Iowa State University, functions under ISU policies and rules, and reports to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Center provides timely, objective, unbiased information to producers, professionals, and agribusinesses concerning the application of important developments in agricultural law and taxation (federal and state legal opinions of relevance, as well as legislative developments), and serves as a primary source of professional educational training in agricultural law and taxation.

The focus of the Center’s work will be in the production of extension publications and seminars on agricultural law and taxation for Iowa agricultural producers and agribusinesses, as well as the development and delivery of technical seminars for lawyers, CPAs, lenders, real estate and other professionals that represent agricultural producers. Center activities also may include providing federal and state policymakers with timely information and insightful analysis of legislative proposals concerning agricultural law and taxation matters.  

Primary areas of emphasis will be in agricultural law, taxation, farm estate and business planning, contracts and commercial transactions impacting agricultural producers and businesses, bankruptcy, real property, civil liabilities (including fence law), environmental, water and natural resources, regulations and policy.

Objectives

  • To provide timely, objective, unbiased information to producers, policymakers, professionals and agricultural businesses concerning the relevance and application of important developments in the law and taxation (e.g.,federal and state legal opinions of relevance, as well as legislative developments that impact agricultural landowners, producers and businesses); and
  • To be a primary source of professional educational training for professional advisors and counselors with an agricultural clientele base.