Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Center, Drake partnership provides new landowner resources

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Landowners who want to incorporate sustainable farm practices into land lease agreements have a new place to go for information.

A new website launched in March is one product of a two-year partnership between the Leopold Center’s Policy Initiative and Drake University’s Agricultural Law Center. The partnership included a review of sustainable agriculture and land tenure in Iowa and analysis of legal questions relating to Iowa farmland ownership and the transfer of land to a new generation of owners, many of whom will rent or lease farmland to others.

The Sustainable Agricultural Land Tenure (SALT) Initiative involved researching farm lease agreements and compiling resources for landowners about how farm leases can be used to encourage soil conservation, which is promoted by Iowa law and court rulings. Issues addressed through the website range from using lease contracts to increase tenure security and soil conservation to assisting new farmers and integrating livestock into crop operations.

The website also includes a 56-page "Landowner's Guide," which can be printed and distributed to those who lack Internet access. In addition, the website contains links to additional information based on landowner priorities, along with explanations of important lease provisions and landlord-tenant laws through multimedia content such as videos and podcasts.

Neil Hamilton, who directs Drake's Agricultural Law Center and served for 21 years on the Leopold Center Advisory Board, noted that the new resources come at a good time. "Iowa's soil and farmland are vital resources and the changing ownership patterns for Iowa farmland present an important opportunity to inform the public about farm leases, soil conservation and other critical legal issues," he said.

Ed Cox, a fellow at Drake Agricultural Law Center, said trends in land ownership indicate that farmland will continue to change hands in Iowa, possibly with less stable tenure and decreased landlord involvement. (see sidebar)

"Increased competition for farmland, higher rents and more expensive farm inputs along with decreased landowner involvement in the farm operation can have negative effects on soil conservation and other sustainability issues, such as community development and opportunities for new farmers," Cox said. "Creative lease agreements can be used to ensure conservation, provide sustainable tenure security and create a profitable and lasting landlord-tenant relationship."

As farmland changes hands at an increasing rate, some new owners have little or no agricultural experience and may not live in the same county or state where the farm is located. While these landowners won't be farming the land themselves, they may well have concerns about the land and the practices that are used.

The resources at SustainableFarmLease.org can assist these landowners in gaining the knowledge and confidence needed to sit down with their tenant farmers and discuss how they can work together to have a productive and profitable farm operation and ensure the long-term stewardship of the land.

SustainableFarmLease.org provides a base of knowledge regarding farm lease provisions and the effects of farm lease arrangements on the activities of tenants. This fosters flexible negotiations and a cooperative relationship, based on landowner and tenant characteristics and concerns. The manner in which the information is presented on the website also addresses the increasing diversity of landowners. Traditional printable guides and quick reference materials are available, as well as interactive resources and multimedia platforms.

The SALT initiative was funded as a two-year special project of the Leopold Center’s Policy Initiative. Leopold Center Interim Director Lois Wright Morton praised the project and the collaboration with Drake.

"The SALT project offers Iowa's landowners and tenants convenient, carefully researched, easily accessible resources showing the variety of options and opportunities available for them to implement more sustainable practices," she said. "The project's products dovetail very nicely with the Leopold Center's mission to research agricultural alternatives that will enhance Iowa's environmental quality."

 

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2011