Over 900 copies of land lease summaries have been distributed in three extension districts in Kansas. Surveys of cash rents and crop shares were conducted in 2012 and 2013 for cropland and pasture in each district. Results showed a wide range in rental rates by district and year, with average pasture rents being $7-30 per acre and cash cropland rents $4-15 per acre. Extension agents in each district have presented the survey results at meetings to help producers and landowners make informed leasing decisions.

1. • Over 300 copies of the
summary publication have been
distributed in the River Valley
Extension District, over 500 in
the Post Rock District, and 100
in the Phillips-Rooks District.
Countless more copies have
been downloaded from their
extension websites.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Pasture Crop Pasture Crop Pasture Crop
DollarsperAcre
River Valley Post Rock Rooks County
2012
2013
Land Lease Surveys for Local Extension Units
Figure 2. John Forshee Presenting at
River Valley District Lease Meeting.
Figure 3. Average Cash Rent (Price Per Acre) for Pasture and
Dryland Cropland in 2012 and 2013 in Each Extension District.
Rooks County $8.50 $7.00 $12.00
Post Rock $9.75 $4.00 $30.00
River Valley $8.50 $4.00 $15.00
Figure 5. Average Rent (Price Per Acre) Including Minimum
and Maximum Values for Grazing Crop Residue in 2013 for
Each Extension District.
Figure 1. Land Lease
Publications
Cropland
• Cash Rent: This is reported in dollars per acre paid to
the landlord for a year-long lease of the ground. The
tenant assumes all of the production and price risk and
the landlord is given a fixed cash payment.
• Crop Share Rent: In this arrangement the landlord
pays a percentage of certain input costs and then
“shares” the output (crop yield) with the tenant. What
inputs are shared varies by arrangement along with
what percentage of the crop is given in payment to the
landlord. This method spreads risk out between the
landlord and tenant, but gives the landlord the ability
to capture a part of the actual income generated on
that agricultural land.
• Flex-Rent: This may be the most complicated
arrangement and can be negotiated in a number of
ways, but in many cases most equitable for landlords
who do not want to pay input costs. A base cash price
is determined (similar to cash rent), and then bonuses
are paid on yield, commodity price, or revenue, if the
tenant generates more than a set “trigger” amount.
This shares some of the risk between both parties as
in good years bonus revenue will be shared, but in less
fortunate years the tenant will only be responsible for
the base amount. Some arrangements also flex down,
or reduce base rent paid if yields or crop prices drop
below a trigger amount.
Pasture
• Pasture is typically rented on a strict cash basis;
usually in dollars per acre for a grazing season. Some
arrangements may use dollars per pair for a grazing
season, dollars per day, or dollars per Animal Unit
Month (AUM).
Arrangements for the leasing
of agricultural land vary widely
from one producer to the
next, but generally fall into the
following categories:
• In the fall of 2012 and 2013, surveys were sent to two
landlords or tenants in each township of the counties
comprising the Phillips-Rooks District (Rooks), Post
Rock District (Smith, Osborne, Jewell, Mitchell, and
Lincoln), and River Valley District (Clay, Washington,
Cloud, and Republic).
• Questions were asked on lease rates, types of
arrangements, characteristics of landlord/tenant
relationships, and much more.
• Each district compiled their own results and developed
publications to distribute the information.
“So appreciate the localized survey data to use in our operation.”
“Very good for decisions made between tenant and myself.”
“We will soon be negotiating a written lease, so this information
today was very valuable.”
“Appreciate non-biased information-helps to make informed
decisions”, “Gives a good starting point for negotiations.”
“Appreciate presentations that give me information that I can
take to my business and apply-valid to my needs.”
• River Valley also held
two summary
meetings where
cropland and pasture
results were discussed
and general
information was given
on negotiating
agricultural leases.
• Post Rock presented
the survey results at
several educational
Water Source 70.7% 28.6% 0.8%
Labor for Fence 77.9% 19.9% 2.3%
Materials for Fence 24.4% 72.5% 3.1%
Weed/Brush/Tree Control 50.4% 34.6% 15.0%
Figure 4. Common Responsibilities for Pasture Maintenance
Practices in RVED and PRED Combined.
According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, 50.8% of all ag land in Kansas is operated on a leased
basis. Given the capital intensive nature of agriculture today, the increasing number of absentee land
owners, the fluctuation in agricultural markets, and the competition to acquire land for leasing, it is
important for producers and landowners to make informed decisions based upon sound economic
principals and reliable information.
Sources for leasing information are fairly limited for area producers. Landowners and tenants frequently
turn to K-State Research and Extension offices for information on the “going rates” of pasture and cropland
leases. Several local K-State Research and Extension districts have recognized the value of local rental rate
information to have available for their clients and began conducting annual lease surveys.
Each district has developed publications that are a compilation from the local surveys returned and do not represent a
random, scientific survey. The objective of this project is to provide local data for all landowners and tenants of the respective
districts and to educate them on the different types of leases and equitable leasing arrangements through the resulting
publications and lease meetings. Phillips-Rooks, Post Rock, and River Valley Districts have been providing this service for
respective consecutive years. For homogeneity and conciseness, this poster discussion covers the 2012 and 2013 survey
years of these Extension Districts.
The survey data displayed the following results:
• Crop Share- these shares are typically paid in a
33%/67%, 40%/60%, or 50%/50% (landlord/tenant)
arrangement.
- Irrigated land commonly fell in the 50%/50% type
arrangement.
- The majority of the shared arrangements were in a
33%/67% arrangements.
- Common shared inputs included seed, fertilizer,
pesticides, and crop insurance.
- Landowners typically provided terrace/structural
maintenance and the majority of the irrigation
equipment and maintenance.
• Cash Rent
• Crop Residue
• Pasture Maintenance Practices
• Flex Rent- becoming more popular but not widely used
yet.
- Base rent ranged between $60 to $100 per acre.
- Flex direction, determination of trigger, and bonuses
varied with each arrangement.
meetings.
• Participants in PRED and RVED summary meetings were
given evaluations after the programs. Some of their
comments were:
Figure 6. PRED Women in Ag
Meeting with a Presentation
by Sandra Wick on Leasing
Arrangements and survey
results.
Rachael Boyle, John Forshee, Kim Larson, Robin Reid, Sandra Wick
Phillips-Rooks District, Post Rock District, and River Valley District
K-State Research and Extension, Kansas State University