Land Lease Education in Indiana

1. Land Lease Team Land Lease Education in Indiana Purdue Land Lease Team

2. Why is Land Lease Education Needed? • Long term trend in Indiana agriculture of increasing amount of farm land being leased. • Cash rents and land prices have steadily been increasing. • Educators were noting an increase in landowner and tenant questions being asked.

3. Team Information • A Risk Management Education (RME) Grant helped to fund mileage and other expenses • Meetings were initiated two years ago • A presentation and updated publications were prepared by dividing responsibilities between team members

4. Team Members • Alan Miller, Purdue Extension Specialist • Dr. Craig Dobbins, Purdue Extension Professor • Jon Cain, Purdue Extension Educator • Ed Farris, Purdue Extension Educator • Nick Held, Purdue Extension Educator • Jim Luzar, Purdue Extension Educator • Paul Marcellino, Purdue Extension Educator • Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension Educator • Jenna Smith, Purdue Extension Educator

5. Updated Publications • Team’s intent was to re-format the existing material • New publication series includes more focused topics to assist landowners and farmers • As an example, “Avoiding Farmland Lease Termination Disputes in Indiana” is now in a Q&A format to improve readability • Final edits are being made

6. Publications in Review • Communication and Your Farmland Lease • Finding Balance in Cash Rents • Cover Crops on Leased Farmland • Farm Drainage on Leased Land • Knowing Your Farm’s Soil Fertility • The Cash Farm Lease • The Crop Share Farm Lease • The Flexible Cash Farm Lease • FSA Direct & Counter-Cyclical Program Payments and Flexible Cash Leases • Switching from a Fixed Cash to Flexible Cash Lease: Common Income and Self-Employment Tax Questions • Avoiding Farmland Lease Termination Disputes in Indiana

7. Key Areas for Presentation • Communication • Understanding & Maintaining the Productivity of Your Farm • Types of Leases & Figuring a Fair Rent • Legal Issues with Farmland Leases • Elements of a Lease • Termination • Rights and Responsibilities

8. Goals for Workshops • We expect workshop attendees will more closely evaluate objectives, risks and rewards for both tenants and landlords. • We also expect attendees will consider specific enhancements to their leasing arrangements.

9. Workshops • Workshops coordinated by the Land Lease Team have been held at 7 locations across the state with over 450 attendees. • Two Workshops were held at Midwest Women in Ag Conferences • State Conference in Southern Indiana (2013) • Regional Meeting in Northern Indiana (2014)

10. Results • 85% of those surveyed planned to use something they learned to develop or modify a lease. • 23% planned to change to a written contract. • 94% felt more confident in their ability to develop or modify their lease.

11. Participant Feedback • “This was a great workshop, unlike any I had experienced before.” This participant planned to look into flexible lease formulas with their tenant. • “Great details and guidance to help with decision-making”- Midwest Women in Ag Regional Session

12. Midwest Women in Ag Conference 2013 (pilot session) Fall/Winter 2013/2014 Locations Planned 2014 Programs Proposed Locations for 2014

13. Future Opportunities • The Land Lease Team is providing coaching andassistance to fellow Extension Educators. • Attorney and/or a professional farm manager may assist Extension Educators with presentations. • Publications should be available soon for use as handouts at meetings and resources for Extension Educators in answering questions.