(Atlantic) The Cass County Extension in Atlantic is hosting a farmland leasing meeting on Wednesday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic. The purpose of the annual meeting is to address any questions that landowners, tenants, or other interested individuals may have about leasing farmland. The average reported rate in the 2024 cash rental survey for the state is $279 per acre of corn and soybeans, marking the first time rates have not increased in five years.
The meeting will cover land values and cash rent trends, cost of production, methods for determining fair rental rates, legislative updates regarding leases, and communication with tenants or landlords.
More than half of Iowa’s farmland is rented, and it is important to maintain strong relationships between landlords and tenants for the long-term viability of the state’s farmland. Individual agreements may vary, so attending the workshop is a great way to learn more or ask questions about specific aspects of farm lease arrangements. The 2.5-hour workshop is designed to assist landowners, farm tenants, and other agri-business professionals by sharing information on current issues and topics related to farmland ownership, management, and leasing arrangements.
Attendees will gain a better understanding of current cash rental rate surveys and factors driving next year’s rents, such as market trends and input costs.
Each registrant will receive a 100-page workbook with resources regarding land leasing agreements, such as surveys, sample written lease agreements, termination forms, and many other publications.
Registration for the August 7 meeting is $20 for individuals or $30 for couples sharing a book. Preregistration is encouraged for material planning. To register, please contact the Cass County Extension Office by calling 712-243-1132 or email Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.
Leasing meetings are being held across Iowa throughout the month of August, facilitated by farm management specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. For out-of-state landowners or those unable to attend a meeting in person, a statewide online webinar will be offered on Monday, August 26 at 9:00 am. The meeting is available for a $20 registration fee, with virtual access provided to the Farmland Leasing Arrangements book. To find other leasing meeting locations or register for the online meeting, visit the Ag Decision Maker events page at https://go.iastate.edu/AGDMEVENTS or the Ag Decision Maker homepage at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm. The Ag Decision Maker website provides useful materials for negotiating leases, information on various types of leases, lease forms, and newly updated Decision Tools.