Lease Budgets and Break-Even
Calculate expected margins and cash-flow strain before signing.
Plan an agricultural lease
- Identify whether the Lease Budgets and Break-Even applies to irrigated cropland, nonirrigated cropland, pasture or another use in the relevant jurisdiction.
- Document acres, field location, lease duration, permitted uses, parties, payment dates and harvest rights.
- Compare published USDA rental information only within matching land class and reporting year.
- Assign responsibility for soil fertility, irrigation, fencing, roads, improvements, repairs and insurance.
- Review local termination law and legal questions with a qualified professional before committing.
Writing a useful agreement
Specify the land and parties, term, payment formula, maintenance responsibility, permitted activities, insurance, assignment of inputs, access rights and written change process. Crop-share and flexible rent arrangements should also define what records each party receives and when calculations are finalized.
Related resources
Farm Lease Research ChecklistPlanning worksheetCash Rent Agreement Planning WorksheetPlanning worksheetCropland Cash Rent ComparisonPlanning worksheetPasture Cash Rent ComparisonPlanning worksheetIrrigated Land Lease ChecklistPlanning worksheetNonirrigated Cropland Lease ChecklistPlanning worksheetFlexible Cash Rent Formula PlannerPlanning worksheetFixed Cash Rent Due-Date PlannerPlanning worksheetCrop Share Lease Cost AllocationPlanning worksheetCrop Share Revenue Split ExamplePlanning worksheetGrain Marketing Responsibilities in Share LeasesPlanning worksheetFlexible Rent Price Trigger WorksheetPlanning worksheet
Official sources to verify rental terms and data
Use published estimates as background, not a binding offer. County rental data may be unavailable or suppressed. Check the reporting year and land class.