Landlord Relationships Advice

In today’s capital intensive world of agriculture, many young or beginning farmers are renting or leasing land. USDA reports that approximately 38 percent of all farm land is rented. Landlords may be generations removed from the land or may be recently retired from farming. Regardless of the landlord’s circumstances, maintaining a positive relationship is critical to those who rent the land they farm. Jolene Brown, farmer, professional speaker, author and family business consultant shares some good advice concerning landlord relations.
Brown “If you are a young person -- and you sure need to rent land to get your cash flow where it needs to be and to get your start in agriculture. Remember farmers become very good at farming once they quit farming. So if you have to rent those assets, keep them neat and clean. Take good care of their resources and don’t forget to invite the landlord to tour their property with you. Thank them, send them a note or give them a gift. The results will be good relations and long-term contracts. When you do this you have built a bridge and loyalty goes along with a lease.”
The USDA’s Family Farm Report states that of those landlords that are not incorporated entities, 55 percent are at least 65 years old, many who are elderly females. Brown suggests other ideas of building landlord relations might include: taking your landlord to Sunday lunch following church and actively listening to the history and heritage of the land you are farming. Time spent in cultivating these relationships can pay dividends.