Crops are maturing, and summer is passing quickly. Even though you may not be thinking about farm leases and land rent in the middle of summer, the Extension Agricultural Business Management team wants to draw your attention to our updated Farm Legal Series.
The Farm Legal Series keeps farmers and ranchers updated on relevant topics critical to a farm business. The Financing the farm and leases section highlights farm leases, information on financing for a farm operation, and restrictions on foreign ownership or leasing of agricultural land.
Farm leases
The first section highlights general information about farm leases, which are usually leases for real estate. In this section, you will find the different types of real property leases, the elements of a solid lease, and the rights of both agricultural landlords and tenants. The section on farm leases also highlights what happens in the event of default.
Leases have become increasingly common as demand for land access is high. In addition, as more land is transferred to a new generation, relationship-building becomes an important component of a successful property lease.
Information, such as the cost of property taxes or property upkeep for a landowner, as well as knowledge of the current price of a crop and the cost of inputs for the farmer, is important to share with the other party involved in a property lease. Sometimes there is a disconnectedness between a property owner and a property renter, and an understanding of each other’s situation. Building a trusted relationship by sharing information from each perspective is one of the key ways to keep a successful farm lease going.
See examples of real property leases.
Information on financing for a farm operation
This section focuses on information relevant to securing financing for a farm operation. Topics for this section include the types of loans a farm might need, sources of funding, as well as strategies for making financial arrangements with suppliers and what happens when a farm might be in financial distress.
Access to credit enables farms to invest in essential resources, and in some cases, securing credit is crucial. Read about financing the farm operation.
Restrictions on foreign ownership or leasing of agricultural land
Minnesota is one of many states that prohibit foreign ownership of agricultural land. Roughly 24 states have enacted similar limits to shield the agricultural base from outside speculation. This is called the Minnesota Alien Farm Law, and it is in place to promote local agriculture and economic stability.
This article provides an overview of who is a permanent resident, how to maintain that status, and how this law affects ownership rights by corporate entities. Learn more about the restriction on the foreign ownership or leasing of agricultural land.