According to the 2019 Corn Cost-Return Budget in Northeast Kansas, cash rents comprise approximately 19 percent of the expenses necessary to produce a corn crop. The soybean number is 27 percent (assumes the same rental rate on a farm in a corn-soybean rotation with differing expense structures based on crop). We can argue what that number is or should be, but the fact is: land rent is a big expense line item when it comes to producing a crop.

Because of the impact cash rents have on both landlords and tenants, finding that right number is often the key to a successful agreement. There are lots of ways to do so. K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics website – www.agmanager.info – has an entire section devoted to the topic. On it, you can find results from USDA surveys, a spreadsheet tool to help calculate an equitable arrangement, rental rate projections, and even copies of presentations by KSU Economists that help explain where the numbers come from. It’s a great resource – but there are often still questions that persist that discussion with a human could help answer.

One of the ‘answer’ folks is also one of the major contributors to the information at AgManager. Dr. Mykel Taylor is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University and has authored many of the presentations and publications available on leasing on the website. She is also our guest for the 2019 KSU Lease School coming up on February 19th in Corning, Kansas. The Lease School be held at the Corning Community Building starting at 1:30 p.m., and will consist of ninety minutes of excellent information on everything from factors affecting the land rental market to projections for the future to how to structure a rental arrangement to help make your farm partnership better. She’ll explain where the numbers from surveys and projections come from, while sharing background information that can help landlords and tenants further understand what to expect for 2019 – and beyond.

There is not cost to attend or need to RSVP. If you would like further information or if inclement weather becomes an issue, please contact the Holton Office of the Meadowlark Extension District at (785) 364-4125 or e-mail me at dhallaue@ksu.edu or Jody Holthaus at jholthau@ksu.edu . Landlord, tenant, or both, this workshop will have something for you. Hope you can attend.