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Inside Iowa State, a newspaper for faculty and staff, is published by the Office of University Relations.

August 27, 2004

Research briefs

Farm ownership changing

Dynamic changes have occurred in Iowa farmland ownership, says Michael Duffy, professor of economics. For example, there was a 30 percent decrease in owner-operated farmland in Iowa between 1982 and 2002.

Duffy's study, "Farmland Ownership and Tenure in Iowa 1982-2002," shows that in 2002, 48 percent of Iowa farmland was owned by persons 65 years and older. That's up from 42 percent in 1992 and 29 percent in 1982.

The study also shows that in 2002, 74 percent of Iowa farmland was free of debt. That's a higher percentage than in both 1992 and 1982.

"Land turnover is increasing and different ownership structures are being used by new owners," Duffy said. "There is a rapid shift toward tenant control of production agriculture and diminished owner involvement. And the move toward an older population of landholders continues."

The full report is online under the "land" link at http://www.econ.iastate.edu/faculty/duffy/.

Even flow, less waste

A fertilizer application system designed at Iowa State has the potential to reduce the amount of ammonia typically used on crops. Precise use of ammonia on crops means less nitrogen leaching, more accurate yields and an overall reduction in application costs for farmers, said Mark Hanna, system designer and ISU extension agricultural engineer.

Paul Boyd, a former graduate student in agricultural and biosystems engineering, helped design the Impellicone, which was named a top new technology of 2004 by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

The Impellicone is a self-powered manifold or flow-divider system that uniformly mixes and distributes the liquid and gas phases of anhydrous ammonia to multiple outlets across an applicator. The equipment is named for the impeller-shaped cone that mixes and distributes the anhydrous ammonia.

"The product is unique because it operates over a wide range of applications, maintaining more uniform distribution levels without different adjustments," Hanna said. Because Impellicone's accuracy allows for better application control, it reduces the temptation to over-apply anhydrous ammonia.

Others involved in developing Impellicone were Tom Colvin, professor and USDA collaborator, National Soil Tilth Laboratory; James Baker, University professor emeritus of agricultural and biosystems engineering; and undergraduate student Kyle Baumgartner.

Study results

  • In 2002, 41 percent of Iowa farmland was owner-operated. And in the 20-year period between 1982 and 2002, there was a 30 percent decrease in owner-operated farmland in the state.
  • Ownership structure has shifted away from sole ownership and toward tenants-in-common and trusts.
  • In 2002, about 74 percent of Iowa farmland was free of debt. That's a higher percentage than in both 1992 and 1982.
  • Anticipated methods of farmland transfer include less bequeathing land to family members and more giving or selling land to family members.