Farmland Leasing and Management workshops to address setting fair cash rents

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is conducting twelve in-person farmland lease meetings in Central Iowa in early August. Meeting sites include Adel, Altoona, Ames, Boone, Grinnell, Grundy Center, Indianola, Knoxville, Newton, Marshalltown, Oskaloosa and Toledo. Participants will also receive a 100-page Farmland Leasing Arrangements booklet.

The discussion will focus on various methods to determine a fair 2025 cash rental rate and the importance of good landlord/tenant communications. According to the May 2024 Annual Cash Rental Rates for Iowa Survey, File C2—10, the cash rental rates for Iowa farmland, rates remained the same as the 2023 statewide average at $279 per acre.

The Newton in-person meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Newton DMACC Campus, 600 N. Second Ave. W. Patrick Hatting, farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will facilitate the two-hour meeting. Participants of the in-person meetings will receive a 100-page Farmland Leasing Arrangements booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements.

Early registration is required at least two days before the in-person meeting. Contact the ISU Jasper County Extension at 641-792-6433 to pre-register on or before Monday, Aug. 5 before noon. The $20 per individual fee with one book is payable at the door.

For a list of meetings statewide, check the ISU Extension calendar for a meeting time for the county you want to attend at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html.