Types of Agricultural Land Leases
- Craig Kaiser
- Aug 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Are you interested in leasing your agricultural land, but unsure of how it works? There are many different types of agricultural land lease agreements, each with pros and cons. Understanding the different types of agricultural lease agreements can help you make an informed decision about which one is right for you. In this guide, we will explore some common types of agricultural land lease agreements and the potential pros and cons of each.
If you’re considering leasing your agricultural land, you can list it for lease at no cost on LandApp’s nationwide marketplace. Listing is entirely free- there are no fees or commissions, and you’re under no obligation to accept any offers. Simply find your property on the map below to start receiving lease offers for your farmland:
Key Takeaways:
Cash Rent Leases:
Advantages: Low risk for landowners, consistent return, tenant assumes crop yield risks.
Disadvantages: Risk of tenant non-payment, no profit sharing above lease payments, potential for short-term farming practices affecting land health.
Crop Share Leases:
Advantages: Shared operation costs, potential profit increase with higher commodity prices, and more control over farming practices.
Disadvantages: Higher risk, requires capital contributions, potential profit loss with low commodity prices, complex negotiation over farming practices.
Hybrid Leases:
Advantages: Combines benefits of cash rent and crop share leases, consistent return with shared profit increases, mitigates some crop-share risks.
Disadvantages: Complex negotiation terms, may offer less control over farming practices than crop share leases.
Key Considerations for Landowners:
Consider specific goals and priorities when selecting a lease type.
Carefully negotiate lease terms to protect land health and ensure financial alignment.
Consult legal and financial professionals for informed decisions.
Types of Agricultural Land Leases
The three main types of agricultural land leases are cash rent leases, crop share leases, and hybrid leases.
1) Cash Rent Leases
The first type of agricultural land lease is a cash rent lease. In a conventional cash rent lease agreement, the tenant pays a fixed amount to the landowner for farming the land throughout the year. This predetermined amount remains unchanged regardless of the crop yield. This type of lease places certain economic risks on the tenant, while ensuring the landowner a consistent return, regardless of commodity prices.
Advantages of Cash Rent Leases
Cash rent leases are relatively low-risk for the landowner, and they guarantee a consistent return. In a cash rent lease, the tenant assumes all risks associated with crop yield and production. For example, if the crops do not perform well or commodity prices are low at harvest time, then the tenant faces this profit loss.
Additionally, unless you specifically outline any requirements or restrictions in the lease agreement, the tenant has the freedom to make all of the major farming decisions. For landowners that do not want to be burdened by the time and capital that is required for involvement in farming practices, a cash rent lease may be a great option.
Disadvantages of Cash Rent Leases
A disadvantage of cash rent leases is the risk that the tenant does not pay their lease payments on time. You may face the risk of non-payment of rent, or the tenant implementing short-term farming practices that may deplete the land's long-term health and productivity. Additionally, if the crops that the tenant grows perform well at harvest time, then the tenant receives all of the profits that come above the amount of their lease payments- none of this profit is shared with the landowner.
Another potential disadvantage of cash rent leases is that the tenant may implement short-term farming practices that deplete the overall health of your land. However, you can negotiate terms that limit exposure to these risks. For instance, you can include terms that specify the type of farming practices that can be used to minimize potential impacts to your land.
2) Crop Share Lease
Crop share lease agreements are the opposite of cash rent lease agreements. Instead of a fixed cash rent payment, the tenant pays the landowner a negotiable percentage of the crop value at the end of the season. In a typical crop share lease, the landowner provides the land, improvements, associated property expenses, and a portion of the variable costs. The tenant, on the other hand, contributes machinery, associated equipment expenses, and a portion of the variable costs.
Advantages of Crop Share Leases
A crop share lease allows you to benefit if commodity prices or production increases while sharing operation costs. Additionally, you have more control and input over the farming practices than you would with a cash rent lease.
Disadvantages of Crop Share Leases
Crop share leases expose the farmland owner to more risk, and it also requires that them to make capital contributions. Additionally, if the commodity prices for the crops are low at harvest time, both you and the tenant experience the profit loss. Negotiating and coming to an agreement with the tenant regarding farming practices can also be considered a disadvantage of this type of lease.
3) Hybrid Lease
As the name implies, a hybrid lease combines elements of a cash rent lease and a crop share lease. In this type of lease, the tenant may pay a fixed cash rent amount (typically a lower amount than in a cash rental agreement) along with a percentage of the crop proceeds, or they may pay a cash bonus if the gross value of the crop exceeds a predetermined amount.
Advantages of Hybrid Leases
A hybrid lease combines the benefits of both cash rent and crop share leases, providing you with a consistent return while also allowing you to share in any profit increases. This type of lease can also help mitigate some of the risk associated with a crop-share lease, as a portion of the rent payment is fixed.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Leases
Negotiating and agreeing upon the terms of a hybrid lease can be more complicated than other types of leases, as there are multiple factors (cash rent, percentage of crop value, etc.) that need to be agreed upon. Additionally, this type of lease may not provide as much control over farming practices as a crop-share lease would.
Which Farmland Lease is Best?
The most suitable lease type varies based on the individual circumstances of the landowner and tenant, including their financial situations, risk tolerance, and farming objectives. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding the common types of leases and their pros and cons is crucial for making an informed decision. Consulting with legal and agricultural experts is essential when drafting a lease agreement.
Is it Profitable to Lease Farmland?
Leasing your farmland can be profitable and it is a smart move to boost your financial goals. By renting out your land, you unlock a steady, reliable income stream through consistent rental payments- no surprises, just predictable cash flow. What’s more is that leasing agricultural land can often outperform managing the farm yourself. Why? Because it frees you from the hefty costs of farming operations- think labor, equipment, and seed expenses- while letting someone else handle the hard work.
But the benefits of owning farmland or leasing farmland doesn't stop there. Leasing also diversifies your income. Pairing rental income with crop production revenue spreads your financial risk, shielding you from market ups and downs or unexpected challenges that could impact yields or prices. It’s a win-win for your wallet and your peace of mind!
How Can I Lease Agricultural Land?
If you're interested in leasing your agricultural land, you can list it for lease for free on LandApp's nationwide marketplace. Listing on LandApp's marketplace is completely free- we do not charge any fees or commissions, and you're not obligated to accept any offers. Find your property on our map below to start receiving offers to lease your farmland: