For many beginning farmers, leasing farmland is the most practical way to gain access to land without taking on the substantial cost of purchasing it. In Iowa, leasing is not the exception. It is a central part of how agriculture operates.
According to the 2022 Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey, approximately 58 percent of Iowa farmland is leased. Nationally, about 39 percent of U.S. farmland is rented or leased. These figures underscore why beginning farmers must understand different leasing arrangements and learn how to build effective working relationships with both family and nonfamily landowners.
ISU Extension and Outreach is hosting several farmland leasing workshops across Iowa through mid-August. Farmers, landowners, tenants, and others who are interested are encouraged to attend to gain practical information that can help them negotiate fair lease terms, avoid misunderstandings, and establish successful long-term leasing relationships.
Topics will include land values, market outlook and cash-rent trends, production costs and crop inputs, methods for determining a fair rental rate, legal developments affecting Iowa landowners and tenants, and effective communication between leasing parties.
Registrants will also receive a 100-page workbook containing practical resources, including survey data, sample written lease agreements, lease-termination forms, and other useful materials.
Additional information about the workshops can be found by visiting Farmland Leasing Arrangements-Better Leases: Better Relationships | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Home,