UW-Extension provides farmland renting options workshop

OCONTO FALLS - University of Wisconsin - Extension of Marinette and Oconto Counties are providing owners of farmland and agricultural producers an opportunity to find out about land rent realities and options.  

A pair of free workshops will be held on Dec. 7 and 12 that will focus on the different aspects that need to be considered when renting agricultural land.

The first session takes place on Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the Pound Town Hall.  The Pound Town Hall is located on Marinette Cty. Hwy. B, on the east edge of the Village of Coleman.

The second session will be held on Tuesday, December 12th at the Oconto Falls Library, Gillett Community Center, 251 N. Main St., Oconto Falls, starting at 10 a.m.    

UW-Extension Crops/Soils Agent Scott Reuss will lead a discussion of the details that should be considered when negotiating a farm rental contract.

There are also many different leasing options available and Reuss will detail some of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of annual or multi-year leasing contracts.

Landowners and farmers that work together to build a good rental contract are also more likely to form longer-term relationships that benefit both parties. Having flexibility and understanding of agricultural realities allows landowners to capture maximum value from their land investment, while still allowing a profitable opportunity for the producer renting their land.

Contract templates of multiple types will be available as handouts, ranging from extremely simple to more complex arrangements.  However, participants do need to make sure they match legal needs and the true needs and desires of both parties.  

The discussion will focus on basic cropland rental situations, but can expand to building leases, grazing land, and other situations which attendees are interested in discussing.

There are no fees for attending either of these programs, nor is pre-registration required.

Contact Scott Reuss in the Marinette County office at 715-732-7510 or via e-mail at scott.reuss@ces.uwex.edu or Sarah Mills-Lloyd in the Oconto office at 920-834-6845 for more information.  

For those who cannot attend a program, another good source of farmland leasing information is found at aglease101.org//