We know Agribusiness
We have been involved with the agriculture industry in Southern Alberta for 40 years. This experience has helped us understand that every situation is different and in agribusiness there usually is not just one clear answer. Below are general descriptions of just some of the hurdles that you may be facing.
Succession planning means implementing the proper framework to make any transition in your agribusiness as flawless as possible for everyone involved. Many fail to consider all of the factors that go into the transition of an agribusiness. Often, people assume their children or spouse will take over after they are gone. With succession planning you can identify and develop new individuals who can replace veteran leaders in the future when they, retire, pass away, or unexpectedly leave. In many cases poor planning leaves a business underprepared. With our help we can reassure you that your agribusiness will be secure for years to come.
Grazing Leases
To meet the needs of your livestock business, you need grazing land to support your animals. A grazing lease is a formal recognition by the Alberta government allowing the leaseholder to use a parcel of publicly owned land for the purposes of grazing. At North & Company, we are able to help you attain a grazing lease, plan the financials to keep it, and assist you in managing any other issues that may arise, such as oil, water or mineral rights on the land.
Crop Share Leases
Leasing land in Alberta is a common practice. Sometimes it may be smart for a landowner to take advantage of a crop share lease. A crop share lease is where a landowner leases their land in return for a share of the crop produced by a tenant. If you are curious as to when a crop share lease may be beneficial to you, or need assistance in setting one up and managing the lease, our knowledgeable lawyers are here to help.
Forestry Tenures
The province of Alberta owns all of the timber contained within provincial public lands. In order to access this timber for commercial harvesting you need to attain a forest tenure from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. If you are unsure of how to do this, or need help in completing this process, we are able to assist.
Our knowledgeable team is comprised of several members who are owners of farms in southern Alberta. This is why, when it comes to buying or selling your farm our first-hand experience is second to none. The act of buying or selling may seem simple; however, without the proper guidance from a legal professional this simple task may have dire consequences. Terms for a contract of sale may hide unwanted conditions, you may be unaware of how to legally transfer title to a buyer, or maybe you just want a second opinion as to whether you are taking the proper steps. Regardless of the nature of your concern, we want to help.
Water is undoubtedly a precious commodity in Alberta. In order to use a certain source of water, you may need to gain permission from the government to do so. Once permission has been granted, the holder of the water rights may use that source of water for their specified purposes. This may seem like a daunting task and you may not know where to start. This is where we come in. We can assist you in navigating the legal concerns and procedures so that you don’t have to. At the end of the day we hope to alleviate the legal confusion so that your only concern will be getting your crop off.
Renewable energy projects have existed in Alberta for some time now, and with the advancement of technology, renewable resources will undoubtedly become a major component of Alberta’s energy landscape in the future. With new projects being built frequently, there are many issues facing an owner of an agribusiness or wind/solar farmer. How can you protect your land interest with a wind or solar development on your property? How can you create a lease for a wind or solar project? How can you navigate the regulations set on your wind or solar farm? These are only a few of the many questions you may have that our lawyers can help answer.
A conservation easement is one way for a landowner to keep a section of land with many of its private property rights intact and still protect its conservation value for generations to come. A landowner can sell or donate certain rights to use or develop land to a private or public organization in perpetuity so that the land will be kept in a suitable condition for conservation efforts. This can be a large commitment. These conditions can stay on your land forever, which is why talking to a professional to help plan accordingly will save you invaluable money, time, and effort in the future.
In order to tackle the legal aspects of financing your agribusiness, our experienced legal team is familiar with all of the agriculture lenders, including the FCC, AFSC, Chartered Banks and Credit Unions. All of these lenders have different policies and paperwork, which can cause unnecessary confusion without the proper help. We are also accustomed to dealing with the various forms of security, including land mortgages, general and specific security agreements, Bank Act security, and guarantees as well as the types of assets secured whether it is land, inventory, quotas or specialized contracts.
