Farm and ranch property sales are a bit different from typical real estate transactions, involving water rights, access and easements, land use laws — and their interpretations by government bodies — and other issues.

Decisions also are less emotional than traditional home sales, said Kendall Jones, a sales associate in the ag and natural resources division with Berkshire Hathaway Northwest.

“With sales of ag property, buyers are looking at them from a more clinical perspective. It’s a strategic business decision,” she said.

Jones will be one of the experts at an upcoming ag real estate event in Salem, Ore.

The Assessing Your Business and Accessing Farmland Workshop is set for 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 22 at the Oregon Farm Bureau office’s second floor boardroom, 1320 Capitol St. N.E.

Free workshop details

The workshop is designed to connect residents with industry professionals and help them learn more about the farmland market and different processes to purchasing and selling ag property.

The event is held by the Marion County Young Farmers and Ranchers and the Marion County Farm Bureau.

Residents of Marion County and nearby counties are welcome to attend. The event is tailored for the area.

Admission is free and breakfast is provided.

Attendees can learn about: preparing and evaluating farm business financials; constructing a business plan; loan application preparation and filing; the farmland purchase and sale process; market updates and trends; the importance of a transactional team for title, water rights and more; avoiding common pitfalls; and listing your property.

Andrea Krahmer, director of ag business support for Oregon Ag Trust, and Todd Hatley from Ag West Farm Credit also will lead discussions.

Overwhelming without experts

Claire Zielinski, Marion County representative for Young Farmers & Ranchers, said the workshop is helpful as land transactions can be “overwhelming” without the help of experts.

Many young farmers are looking to branch out on their own or expand their operations, said Zielinski, merchandise manager for E-Z Orchards Farm Market in Salem.

Many landowners don’t have a succession plan. Some of those farmers likely will be in attendance, so there’s an opportunity for connections at the workshop.

“They’re looking for someone who will hopefully take good care of their land,” Zielinski said.

Jones said sales prices rose astronomically with COVID, but the rural market has softened somewhat and prices are settling down.

“We’re getting back to historic norms,” she said.

Zielinski and Jones said similar events in the past year have been well attended.

Jones, who recently led a seminar for Yamhill and Polk counties, wants to hold more workshops in the region about buying and selling farm and ranch land.