Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Marion County will hold a farmland lease meeting Thursday. The program will focus on methods to determine fair cash rental rates and the importance of good communication between the landlord and tenant. Farm Management Specialist Patrick Hatting says one of these methods involves a crop suitability rating, which is determined by a variety of factors.

“We have an index where we could say a fair cash rent might be this number. Let’s say someone has ground two miles from a processing place that they can haul corn to very easily on a blacktop, it’s just really easy to get it to the market. That might drive a higher price than someone that has to go quite far to take it somewhere.”

Other topics covered include farmland ownership and tenure, cover crop research, a market update, and more. The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, and costs $20. Find out how to register here: Farmland-Leasing-2021-Hatting