General
How does everyone go about contacting new land rentees?
Young farmer looking for help to make new contact with new potential land renters. I am having trouble expanding my acres? Any ideas are helpful. Located in Nebraska
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I didn’t read read other posts before I responded. This why farming is what I love. All over we as farmers still in general have respect and responsibility as a priority in our business and life. Thank you all the other farmers out there. Keep up the good work.
Do a good job with what you already have. Be humble and a good neighbor. It will come to you over time
Picked up over 400 acres this year. They liked the way we farmed. Never had any luck contacting landowners and picking ground up that way.
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Never went and asked anyone for more farmland. All the land I rent they came and asked me. Picked up 240 acres in 2020 this way. Patience and doing a good job on what you have is the best way. Can be frustrating better off in the long run. Some land owners are weary of the young guys paying high rent because they tend to not make it very long and land lords don't want to be looking for ne...
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I'm a smaller farmer myself. I'm just in the process of paying for the farm that has been in my family for over 100 years. It's 220 acres. I also currently rent my cousins farm next door that is 145 acres. I spend alot of time mowing turn rows and farm lanes. I keep the turn rows limbed back and keep limbs picked up. I keep the snow plowed in the driveways. I do this because I want to be proud whe...
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Well there’s lots of wisdom in many of these posts. I’ve been in the game for 30 years now and it has changed drastically since the beginning. I’m a great people person so if I can just get face to face with a landowner looking for a renter I’ll usually win. I kiss ass when I need to. Be humble. They do OWN the land!! I don’t squabble over $50 rent increases I just suck it up and figure out a wa...
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Let the landlords come to you. I have never succeeded at acquiring more rental ground by asking first. Let your farming practices speak for themselves. Dont run other producers over either and always be respectful to other producers, even if they do not deserve it.
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What commodity are you trying to grow? We have farmers in Nebraska (mainly southeast) willing to lease acres to Hemp farmers.
Forty years ago I took over my Dad's small farm. The first land I bought I was competing against two large established farmers. That is life, just deal with it. You need to be one of the best farmers in the area. I planted on time, kept things mowed up. I got involved in several organizations. Your reputation is everything. It takes a while to build it. I was able to rent a farm when a neigh...
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Go to the court house in your county. You can look up who is paying the taxes. They will provide name and current address then call information for the number. Bingo you are in touch. I would only check into land that is managed poorly, don’t offer more than the county average for rent. Only offer to be a better steward of the land. Out of pocket land owners sometimes have no idea if their propert...
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Reading your post and all the others. All have good points, others have gone different ways about it and to the guy that posted I understand. Everyone has to start from somewhere and you gotta do what's best for his operation. But to the ones that talk good neighbors and not to land poach brings up a bug in me that I dislike beings when I was 5 years old my grandfather passed away and within 24 ...
We moved to the area 7 years ago. We started with the 120 ac farm we bought with 230 dairy cows. Like others have said, if you treat the land like it is your own other people notice. We now run close to 1100 acres thru word of mouth. We haven't rented farmland out from anyone, just did a good job, worked hard and tried to innovative and adaptable. When the phone rings you chase it. We are to the p...
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I’m a small guy in a huge pond so to speak. I also have a hard time finding land with the corporate guys killing us on high rents and over price purchases of land. My own family cut me out for the big money of corporate when they retired now I’m struggling to keep going at something I am very passionate about. I can’t afford to play a cutthroat game and the only land I can find the big guys come i...
Do not be desperate for land. Focus on what you have. Be a good neighbor. Be prepared for more. No one can predict the future.
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I agree with ***** & **** and don't go a rent ground that is already farmed unless the owner approaches you. Mow the side ditches, plow there snow, offer to help them when they need small handy man jobs done. Be innovative and try new things. I was the first one to try a new crop to our area and did not think anything of it but other people did and got noticed. Started using covers and that got no...
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Don't be afraid to take your shot when you get your opportunity. Cold calling or newspaper ads probably won't get you far. But if you know someone and have a good relationship there don't be afraid to at least bring it up that you would be interested. No harm in that. It's kind of like dating - a lot of times relationships don't start because both sides are afraid to ask. And don't be pushy if n...
Be involved in the community. Build relationships with everyone. Don’t try and rent ground that is currently being farmed, you will end up making a bad name for yourself. Be willing to try new things/crops. Do your best job on the acres you have and growth will find you. I was told when I started farming, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” I didn’t get where I wanted until year 13. It takes time. I’d be...
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In response to the guy that offered 50/acre more and the landlord said no, I’m sticking with my guy, Just remember what goes around comes around. Be thankful those landlords said no because someday that could be one of your landlords getting that offer from the “next big time operator” in your county. It will come to you if you do things right. I came back after college with the hopes of renting ...
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Really curious *****, how were you able to buy an 80 every 3 years? Loans to buy farmland must be easier to be approved for than I think unless you pay cash. If you pay cash, then your can't be cash poor. My situation is not dissimilar to yours, a "small" operation, but am fighting tooth and nail to put my face in front of landowners. If I can get that opportunity, I know I can make some prog...
Started farming in late 1980s. Don’t poach. We mowed grader ditches fixed farms up. Never tried to rip landlord off. Will take a few years for people to notice but after awhile you will get offers. Bidding rent having to be high bid hard to make money. We today turn farmland down cause are growth is to fast. We have never poached a farm. But do go visit with older farmers. Good luck. ...
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Same problem I have where I’m at if ground does come up for rent they won’t rent it to the little guy. Also a lot of poaching going on. We used to be a community now it’s pretty cut throat there’s like 5 farmers who rent or own all the land in 40 square miles. Not only that but if land does comes up for sale they band together and drive the price so high no one else can afford. I had to leave the ...
I feel your pain, been at it for four years have offered 35 to 55 dollars more an acre on a few pieces of ground, but yet they stick with current person farming it, claiming they are good renters even tho they are way under county average for dryland rent. Does that make sense to you cause it doesn't to me?
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Building relationships with landlords can be worth more than just offering to pay higher rent.
Or maybe they actually like the good renters they have and aren't motivated to change just because you waved more cash at them? It's not always about money for some folks.
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To **** to change and it doesn’t make any sense.
came back to the farm 8 years ago full time and several years part time before that. Have hogs, is the only way I can be back. I rented 100 acres my first year back and have only picked up 35 acres since coming back. Try to do things right and be neighborly but that just doesn't seem to do it anymore...Also hate the poaching tactic. Not that I haven't had opportunities to "bid" on rent. but ...
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I’ve heard that we couldn’t farm the ground in the future for 40 years. **
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Advertising in local paper; develop a web site and let area bankers, seed dealers, chemical suppliers, auctioneers, real estate agents aware of your desires, also. Starting custom farming can get you access to more clients.
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As someone else mentioned, pay rent earlier than due date, has helped me keep a renter.
Be careful. In our business you sometimes pick up land because someone else failed. Don’t be try to get land by talking about someone who is down. Put your name out there and do good job with what you have. Most times they will come to you. Keep your integrity always.
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A lot of the people that have ground around here are put of state, any idea what's good way of contact with no phone. Umber, just maiiling address? Is it appropriate to send a letter?