The Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF) is hosting a workshop on agricultural lands conservation and estate planning for landowners and stakeholders. This workshop will be held on Wednesday July 22 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Leon County Agricultural Center (IFAS Extension Office) located at 615 Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee, Florida.

The workshop also will be telecast to IFAS Extension offices in Santa Rosa and Jackson Counties. The workshop is co-hosted by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy. Lunch will be included. Seminar cost is $10 for refreshments and materials.

Conservation easements can help landowners realize tax savings on property taxes, federal income taxes and, in some cases, estate taxes. Based on the value of the conservation easement, the federal tax incentives allow qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% (landowners 50%) of their total income the year of the conservation easement donation. Any remaining value of the donated easement can be deducted, (up to 100% of the landowner’s income), and carried forward for 15 years; for a potential total of 16 years of no federal income taxes. Nancy Peterson, Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. Board of Directors, will serve as moderator.

Speakers and topics include: Brian Hershorin Esq., tax benefits of conservation easements; Cindy Wright, MAI - appraising conservation easements; Tall Timbers Executive Director Lane Green - successful land stewardship through research, conservation and education; Marlene Conaway, county comprehensive planning for agriculture lands, Clay Henderson Esq., Amendment 4’s effects on property tax incentives for conservation lands; Joseph Maltese Certified Financial Planner, life insurance as an estate planning tool; Jerry Joiner - USDA Farm Bill Program; and a landowner with a conservation easement will discuss stewardship of conservation easements from a landowner’s perspective.

The goal of the workshop is to reach landowners who are faced with an array of tough decisions concerning the future of their land and to inform them about conservation options. Farmers and ranchers will learn about current tax incentives for land conservation, the beneficial economic impacts of conservation easements and about ways to reduce property, federal income, and estate taxes. In addition, conservation easement appraisal information and national, county, and state resources for land protection will be addressed.

Farmers, ranchers, landowners, accountants, appraisers, lawyers, students, and others interested in the protection of the special places in our state are encouraged to attend the workshop.

Please register by contacting Ellen Huntley Dubé at 352-372-6568 or by email at ellen@conserveflorida.org. The $10 registration for lunch will be accepted at the seminar sites.

CTF Executive Director Busy Shires Byerly recognizes that farms, ranches, and forestlands are an essential resource for Florida’s economy, environment, and rural way of life. She stresses, “Florida is at a critical place in assuring that landowners have practical financial options for their lands as they consider their long term land management goals.”

The workshop is part of a series of workshops geared towards landowners to make effective conservation management decisions for their families and for future generations. The Conservation Trust for Florida is hosting the workshops with its partners, including Tall Timbers, the UF-IFAS Extension Offices and is supported with funding from the Quail Roost Foundation, Progress Energy, Sally Venerable, and the Educational Foundation of America. Four workshops will be held through February 2010 at regional centers to facilitate attendance from multiple counties throughout the state.