NEW HANDS A USDA survey sheds light on the 93 million acres of farmland expected to be transferred to new owners between 2015 and 2019, amid the relatively advanced age of the U.S. farming population. Six percent, or 55.8 million acres, of that land could very well change hands without exposure to the marketplace. It is anticipated that 13 million acres will be sold from one relative to another. Twenty-one million acres, or 22.5 percent of the total, will go to non-relatives. Currently, 61 percent of the 93 million acres– representing 10 percent of all land in farms–is owned by operator landowners. Read more.

WORLD CLASS An agricultural technology accelerator is set to launch in Central Iowa thanks to the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Cultivation Corridor and investors with an eye on bringing world-class talent and ideas to the region. Peoples Company is one of four backers that have each committed $100,000 to the project. Six companies–from Iowa, other states and outside of the U.S.–are expected to form the first cohort when the accelerator kicks off next year. Read more.

REVISED UP There is more profit on the horizon for farmers than previously expected as costs for feed, fuel and fertilizer declined. The USDA estimates that U.S. farm net income will be $71.5 billion in 2016–up by 30 percent compared with the agency’s February estimate. Bloomberg reports that is still 11 percent smaller than 2015’s net income, and profits are down from their $123.8 billion peak in 2013. Farm expenses will fall to $306.5 billion in 2016. U.S. farm debt-to-equity ratio, the USDA predicts, will increase for a fourth consecutive year. Read more.

UNDER FOOT Healthy soil is critical for long-term agricultural production. The Huffington Post, noting that about 70 percent of fresh water worldwide is used to produce food, and 95 percent of food is produced on land, published an article drawing attention to next farming revolution–the dirt under our feet. From nutrient management to carbon storage, overcoming threats to global soil health will require a collaborative approach. That means emphasizing the best practices and incentives to help farmers, ranchers and consumers protect the environment, at the same time realizing the potential of regenerative agriculture. Read more.

HOLD ON Agrimoney.com reported over the summer that farm prices in England “should remain steady” through 2016 after experiencing the biggest fall 12 years. Longer-term direction could depend on post-Brexit trade deals. Many investors appreciate the potential resilience of investing in hard assets like farmland when dealing with the volatility surrounding economic shake-ups such as the UK vote in June to quit the European Union. English farmland prices have fallen by 6 percent since posting record highs for the April-to-June period of 2015. Read more.

ON WATER A diverse array of Iowans are being asked to help identify the economic development benefits associated with improving the state’s water quality. State ag officials, alongside business owners and representatives of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, will work to develop an action plan focused on the economic drivers and market-based solutions associated with speeding up the implementation of conservation practices. The conservation infrastructure effort is being co-chaired by Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey and farmer Ray Gaesser. Read more.

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