The deadline to sign up to recognize farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more is coming up. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. Northey says applications need to be postmarked by June 1st to be recognized this year at the state fair.
Century farms that have been in the same family for 100 years will be recognized, as will Heritage Farms, which have been in the same family for 150 years or more.
Northey says the ag department asks some questions to verify the farms fit the requirements. Northey says there are different ways to document that the farms have been in the family, and generally it is not hard, although finding 150-year-old records can sometimes be hard. Northey says there are still several farms every year that are added to the honor list.
He says last year they had 67 heritage farms and 344 century farms, and he says there are people who are very proud of the designations. The 2009 Century Farms Program ceremony will be held at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, August 18th, and the Heritage Farms Program ceremony will be held Thursday, August 20th.
You can find out information about registering your farm on-line at the Iowa ag department website .