Communication

In any leasing arrangement, landowners and farmers need to recognize where their interests align and differ. Both parties may have something to gain from using agricultural conservation practices that safeguard the future health and profitability of farmland. 

Landowner Strategies

A landowner should start the communication process by considering his or her own stewardship values and priorities, and then consider how they relate to the farmer’s. The following is a list of initial considerations for a landowner. 

1. How important is farm stewardship, or responsible land and resource management, to you?

2. Is it important that you have a farmer who shares the same stewardship or land and resource management values as you? 

3. Do you feel comfortable making agricultural conservation choices for your land independently, or do you want to make conservation practice choices collaboratively with your tenant? 

4. If farm stewardship is important to you, is it addressed in your current farm lease? 

Farmer Strategies

Understanding the landowner’s long-term plan for the land will allow a farmer to consider the conservation practices that will enhance both farming activities and landowner’s goals. The following considerations will help a farmer start a conversation with a landowner. 

1. How important is farm stewardship, or responsible land and resource management, to you? 

2. Do you have concerns about the land you farm (soil erosion, soil health, surface water runoff, etc.) that could be improved with conservation practices?

3. What short-term impediments exist that prevent you from incorporating conservation practices into your farming operation (examples: indefinite or short lease term, concerns about maintenance costs/responsibilities)? 

4. What types of support or resources would make adopting agricultural conservation practice(s) feasible? 

More communication strategies for landowners and farmers can be found in the Appendix to the Agricultural Conservation Leasing Guide.