One of the most frequently asked questions is "What cash rental rate is fair?" This page helps address this issue, provides farm rental links and information on lease agreements.
How Do I Calculate a Fair Land Rental Price?
Many landowners in Paulding county choose to rent their farm ground instead of actively farming the ground themselves. The major question that landlords and tenants ask is, “What is a fair price to rent farm ground for?” Determining rental rates is dependent on a number of variables that are different for each land rental situation.
Leases
It is recommended once the landlord and tenant agree on a rental price a written lease should be signed by both parties. The North Central Farm Management Extension Committee has developed a website “Ag Lease 101” which helps both landowners and land operators learn about alternative lease arrangements and includes sample written lease agreements for several alternatives. Some of the examples leases available: Cash Farm Lease, Crop-Share Lease, Pasture Lease, Farm Building/Livestock Facility Lease, Farm Machinery Lease for Non-Commercial Transactions and Livestock Rental Lease. Ag Lease 101 can be accessed at https://aglease101.org/ Sample leases can also be accessed below.
Legal Questions & Answers
OSU Extension’s Agricultural & Resource Law Program, led by Assistant Professor Peggy Kirk Hall, helps to provide research and outreach on legal issues affecting agriculture. A variety of Law Bulletins are available from the Farm Leasing Law Library and include the following discussions: What’s in Your Farmland Lease?, Creating an Enforceable Farm Lease, Protecting, Interests in a Verbal Farm Lease Situation, Leasing Your Land for Hunting, Crop Share Leasing in Ohio, and Legal Aspects of Ohio Farmland Leases. The Agricultural & Resource Law Program can be accessed at https://farmoffice.osu.edu/
Below is a listing of resources from The Ohio State University and other land grant universities you will find useful as you evaluate a fair rent for your farm.
Surveys of Cash Rental Rates
2019 Ohio Average Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2017 Ohio Average Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2016 Ohio Average Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2014 Ohio Average Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2013 Ohio Average Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2012-2013 Ohio Average County Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2011-2012 Ohio Average County Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2011 Ohio Average County Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2009-2010 Ohio Average County Cash Rents from Ohio NASS
2008-2009 Ohio Average Rental from Ohio NASS
Farm Management Decision Tools
The tools below can be found at https://aede.osu.edu/research/osu-farm-management/decision-tools
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Flexible Cash Lease Calculator - Cash Lease with a Bonus Approach
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Flexible Cash Lease Calculator - Net Return Approach
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Flexible Cash Lease Calculator - Ratio Approach
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Crop Share Calculator
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Machinery Rental Rates Calculator
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LANDBID
Ohio Crop Yields
Crop Yields by County in Ohio from Ohio Agricultural Statistics Service
General Land Rental Agreement Information
Fixed and Flexible Cash Rental Arrangements for Your Farm-NEW
Crop Share or Crop Share-Cash Rental Agreements for Your Farm-NEW
Pasture Rental Agreements for Your Farm-NEW
Legal and Management Aspects of Ohio Farmland Leases, FR-0001-01
Flexible-Cash Rents for Farmland, FR-0002-01
Farm Rental Agreement Checklist, FR-0003-01
Managing Landlord-Tenant Relationships: A Strategic Perspective, FR-0004-01
Crop Share Leasing in Ohio, FR-0005-01
Tax Issues for Farm Rental Agreements, FR-0006-02
Leasing Farm Buildings and Livestock Facilities, FR-0007-02
Establishing a Fair Pasture Rental Rate, FR-0008-06
Flexible Cash Rents Based on Crop Insurance Parameters
Sample Agreements and Other Information
NCRME Fixed and Flexible Cash Lease Agreement-NEW
NCRME Crop Share Lease Agreement-NEW
Basic Farm Agreement (FSA compliant)
Sample Farm Cash Lease agreement (FSA Compliant)
Cash Farm Lease-Detailed Sample Agreement (1997version of NCRME Cash Lease)