Presentation
Farmland leases pose particular challenges because farmers’ and landowners’ interests often misalign. Farming practices that maximize short-term yield and profitability usually come at the expense of long-term fertility (i.e., equity of the land as an asset). Frequently, the tenant farmer believes they are a better steward of the land than they really are, and the landowner does not know enough to know the difference. Often, too, the interests and passions of farm managers and family members sway the process for better or worse. We will discuss key provisions in commercial farmland lease agreements, implications for all concerned, and strategies for better aligning everyone’s interests.