Klein Family takes steps to keep Milam/Falls County farm in production

The Texas Agricultural Land Trust is pleased to accept the donation of an agricultural conservation easement by Klein Farms, LLC of Milam & Falls Counties. By donating their development rights to the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, the Klein family has memorialized their love of the land – ensuring that their 773-acre farm will never be subdivided or developed for non-agricultural purposes. The conservation easement was individually negotiated and tailored to fit the Klein family’s wishes for the property, and will run with the title to the land in perpetuity. “Gene Klein is an innovative and passionate land steward. We are proud to be his partner in conservation,” says Texas Agricultural Land Trust CEO, Blair Fitzsimons. “Any time we can work with landowners to ensure that valuable ag lands remain in production for future generations is a good day for Texas.” In 1995, after almost 20 years of traditional farming, Klein’s bank went belly-up and his farming assistance was delayed. He had a choice to make – quit farming or quit plowing. “I just quit plowing the ground. I had to,” Klein said. Though no-till farming was still an enigma to most of the region, Klein was determined to find a way. He engineered his own equipment and developed new farming techniques when existing tools were not sufficient for his situation, and he is now seen as a trailblazer in the central Texas farming community. In the years since he made the conversion, Klein has seen his costs decline and his yields increase. Added benefits include the reduction of wind and water erosion and the development of healthy organic matter levels in the soil that are rarely adequate in repeatedly plowed earth. Due to his efforts, Klein was named Resident Conservation Farmer of the Year in May of 2000 by the Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board (Area 55). In addition to making their living from the land, the Klein family enjoys hunting and observing wildlife on the property. “Gene and I love to spend evenings in the box blind we call our ‘hotel’ watching the wildlife,” says Gene’s wife, Jan. It was this love of the land that was the impetus for the conservation easement partnership with the Texas Ag Land Trust. “I wanted to be sure my land remains in production and is never sold off in small portions for development. I want my family to be able to come out an enjoy the farm forever,” Gene said. Texas is losing her agricultural lands faster than any other state, impacting our rural economies, water and air quality, and wildlife habitats. The act of implementing a conservation easement is a gift that benefits all Texans. And because the Kleins make their living in agriculture, they can utilize the enhanced tax incentives for donated conservation easements, and deduct the value of the conservation easement against 100 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI). Thanks to the Klein family and their commitment to conservation, a piece of Texas is permanently conserved for future generations to enjoy. TALT is proud to partner with the Klein family to keep Texas’ working lands productive for future generations.