$120 acre rent

[farmaholic]

People who rent land for $120/acre must grow alot better crops than me. Even around here I wouldn't want to pay what some guys are. I'm not working for nothing or hoping to average a profit over three to five year lease terms.

Besides I'm both lazy and cheap.

I would rather struggle trying to pay for land than rent a bunch, at least in the end you own it....hopefully.

Investors can shove it. Some people are making investor's mortgage payments....serfdom at it's finest.

[oldjim]

Jazz - $120 rent is certainly attractive but I've been hearing lentil yields close to 40 this year around here. Let's use 36 bu/ac of red lentils (2,160 lbs) at 25 cents per pound for #1 reds (Stat Pub average) grosses $540/acre. Using the classic one third crop share would be $180/acre by comparison.

Last year a friend of mine who crop shares his land ended up with $160/acre.

My concern with $120 cash would be: are you going to actually get paid, or will the fall half of the rent cheque go missing. High reward carries high risk.

[makar]

I get my rent up front

[ajl]

My concern with $120 cash would be: are you going to actually get paid, or will the fall half of the rent cheque go missing. High reward carries high risk.

That how it goes around here. One greedy old buzzard has some land for sale for the past three years. This year it did not get seeded. Renter still owes from a couple years ago. Just can't get his head around the fact that it ain't worth what he is asking. Honest guys can't compete.

[SASKFARMER]

Yes, and the check has to be certified and upfront. Not a problem.

[MBgrower]

Demand for rent is fierce, always demand full payment up front prior to seeding.

[farmaholic]

Some guys are expanding acres and their goal is total acres, not margin. Its become unhinged but we are getting good yields here, even this yr.

When I was expanding our farm it was never about keeping up with the Jones's. I'm not into swinging dick contests.
Would I like a bit more land....yup. But I don't want to rent it. If I was 25 years younger that attitude might spell the end to a farm, but things are way different now than then. It is cheaper to rent than buy. But that doesn't matter if you have nothing to show for it in the end.....except spinning your wheels.

[farming101]

It depends how hard you want to work, how much risk you want to assume, and how big a payroll you will have to float if you are going to farm it yourself. My back tells me I'm working hard enough.

[fjlip]

Just about everybody is WORKING at max around here. Hardly a break from spring till winter. Neighbor says it is max stress.

[jazz]

Our farm is at that critical junction where old equip will need major upgrading to continue. Been throwing wrenches too long. Do you make a $500k investment into decent equip or ride out what you have a for a few more yrs. and let the hungry take it over. No apprentices to move in after I am done, my girls like ballet and hate bugs, dirt and dust. They will be doing something else.