Lease of field for cattle or hay.

[twabscs]

Henry,

You need to let us know where you're located as that may help with your question. Here in Missouri, the rate for pasture / hay ground is $25-$40 / acre. I have one farm that has a good stand of alfalfa / orchard grass that gets $40 and acre. I'm responsible for the lime, he's responsible for most everything else.

I have a neighbor that lets a local farmer have his hay (to cut his fields), but this is because he didn't realize that he could actually make a little money with a little more effort.

State Farm has a simple farm policy that covers liability for renting farms and I pay $50 / year for up to 500 acres.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I think we are all being too sensitive about what was a "throw away" remark about hunters. Let it lie and move on.

Talk to the guy who had it rented previously. He still may want to rent. Negotiate fertillizing, cutting, fence mending and the number of head to be run on the 30 acres with any potential renter. I've seen pasture turned to mud/dust holes by renters putting too many cows on a pasture or using it as a "cow motel" for animals on the way to market and it takes a long time for it to recover. When I was in this position a few years ago, I rented it out for $1/acre and all fertiilizing and maintenance just to keep the land in use and looked after. You don't want to lose any ag exemption you have because that'll hit your pocket pretty hard and it's a pain to get back.

If insurance only costs $50 a year, get it.

 

[twabscs]

EastTex is right. Be careful when renting it out as "pasture" for cattle. You'll have additional issues to deal with. I turned down $50/acre for cattle pasture and opted for the $40/acre hay. No need to worry about cattle getting out, fencing upkeep, flies, etc. I don't have anything against cattle, but when renting, cattle can do alot more damage than hay (especially to ponds/lakes). You really need to know/trust the individual when renting your ground as pasture.

In reality, though, pasture is a more effective use of the land. Why take the grass to the cattle when you can bring the cattle to the grass. Much less fertilizer needed as well.

 

[Alan L.]

Dumbdog. Well I give up. With PC, just about anything you say is misconstrued. Forget I posted anything.....

 

[DUMBDOG]

Back to the business of leasing out the land, the important thing is to have insurance to protect your assets from litigation for whatever may occur. Personally, I do not have to worry as I have insurance on my insurance and the only worry is to be able to pay the premiums and the taxes.