Farmland Leasing Meetings in late July and August

Iowa State University Extension

ALTOONA, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is conducting farmland leasing meetings across 12 different sites in Central Iowa during late July and August. Meeting sites include Gladbrook, Boone, Oskaloosa, Knoxville, Adel, Newton, Altoona, Grinnell, Nevada, Indianola, Marshalltown and Winterset and are coordinated by county ISU Extension and Outreach offices.

Discussion at these meetings will focus on tenant/landlord communications, land values and cash rental rate trends and various methods to determine a fair cash rental rate using an actual Central Iowa Case Study Farm. According the Cash Rental Rates for Iowa ? 2017 Survey released in early May, the average 2017 cash rent statewide of $219 per tillable acre declined by an average of 4.8 percent as compared to 2016. This decline is due primarily to lower crop prices impacting tenant?s profitability. Average cash rents statewide have declined for four consecutive years and are currently nearly 19 percent below the 2013 high.

The Altoona meeting site will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 2, beginning at 7 p.m. with doors open at 6:30 p.m. This is the home of the Polk County Extension Office located at 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A, in Altoona. The meeting will last approximately three hours and will be facilitated by Steve Johnson, farm and agriculture business management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Pre-registration is required at least two days before the meeting and a $20 per individual or $30 per couple fee is payable at the door. Participants will receive a 100-page booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements.

Contact the Polk County Extension office at (515) 957-5760 with your questions or to pre-register on or before Monday, July 31.