Getting Started

Communication: To maintain a good working relationship, landowners and farmers need to discuss their farming and conservation goals. Most lease disputes arise out of a misunderstanding, so having open communication and agreeing about the terms of the lease will help to reduce the likelihood of future legal woes. Need help getting started? Check out these communication resources. 

Forming a farm lease can support agricultural conservation practices and is beneficial to both parties to the lease. Gathering the following information will be helpful in creating your lease. You can complete a draft lease without having all the answers, our system will email you a word document produced at the end, and where you can complete it and review the draft with all parties including an attorney. The entire process takes roughly 45 to 90 minutes.

• Landowner and tenant information, including names and address

• Landowner and tenant information including legal names and addresses

• Property information, including address, acreage to be leased, and legal description of the property

• Any additional property to be leased in addition to land (houses, buildings, livestock)

• The length of the lease, including the start and end date, and how you will renew and/or end the lease

• The rent to be paid, whether it will stay the same or change, and at what frequency it will be paid (monthly, quarterly, annually)

• Information regarding whether landowner or tenant is responsible for maintenance, repairs, and utilities

• A list of activities the farmer will be allowed to engage in on the land and any that are not permissible

• The farm’s conservation plan to establish stewardship standards, information about specific conservation practices and all conservation funding programs

• Any insurance requirements