Business : Farm tenants/landowners encouraged to attend local meeting or virtual webinar

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting a series of farmland leasing arrangements meetings across the state throughout July and August, as well as a statewide virtual webinar on Aug. 26. These annual meetings are offered to address questions that landowners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland.

The negotiated rate is one aspect of farmland leasing arrangements. The 2025 annual survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland shows that rates decreased, on average, by 2.9% in 2025 to $271 per acre. This is the first decline in cash rents since 2019, after a peak of $279 per acre the previous two years of the survey. The goal of the farmland leasing program is to go beyond rates and discuss all aspects of strong leasing relationships.

Workshop topics will cover land values, market outlook and cash rent trends, costs of production, methods for determining a fair rental rate, legal updates regarding leases and strategies for effective communication with tenants or landowners. ISU Extension and Outreach farm management field specialists will also address common questions regarding leases affected by a farm estate or succession plan.

"More than half of Iowa's farmland is rented, and strong landowner/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa's valuable farmland," said Ann Johanns, program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach and editor of Ag Decision Maker. "While the trend in rental rates is fairly steady, individual agreements vary, and attending a workshop is a great way to learn more or ask questions on specific aspects of farm lease arrangements."

Each two-and-a-half-hour workshop is designed to assist landowners, farm tenants and other agri-business professionals with current issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements. Attendees will gain a better understanding of current cash rental rate surveys and factors impacting next year's rental arrangements, such as market trends and input costs.

Each registrant will have access to a 100-page workbook with resources regarding land leasing agreements, such as surveys, sample written lease agreements and termination forms, along with other publications.

Registration for local county farmland leading meetings is $25 per individual, which includes workshop materials. Pre-registration is encouraged, as an additional fee may be added if registering less than two calendar days before the meeting date. To register, call your ISU Extension and Outreach county office.

The statewide virtual webinar will take place on Aug. 26 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Online registration is required, and the cost to register is $25 per individual.

Farmland leasing meetings are facilitated by farm management specialists Joseph Lensing, Patrick Hatting, Paul Martin, Ryan Drollette, Tim Christensen and Eric Weuve with ISU Extension and Outreach. For a list of all meeting locations, visit the Ag Decision Maker events page.

The Ag Decision Maker website provides useful materials for negotiating leases, information on various types of leases, lease forms and newly updated decision tools.

For more information, contact your farm management specialist or county Extension office.

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