AG Lease Basics: How to Attract and Screen Farm Tenants
AG Lease Basics: How to Attract and Screen Farm Tenants
Finding a quality farm tenant is the foundation of a successful ag lease. The right operator pays reliably, communicates well, and takes care of your soil. Here's how to attract qualified candidates and screen them before you sign.
Serious farm tenants are looking for specific things. Your listing should give them what they need to evaluate your property quickly.
Include in your listing:
- Total available acres and breakdown (cropland vs. pasture vs. timber)
- Soil productivity: FSA soil map, Crop Productivity Index (CPI) score, or NRCS soil data if available
- Drainage: tiled, open ditch, or undrained? This matters a lot.
- Existing infrastructure: grain bins, irrigation, equipment storage, field access
- Lease type preferred: cash rent, crop share, or flexible
- Current crop or cover crop status
- Weed or drainage issues (be honest — experienced operators will find out anyway)
- Timeline for when the lease starts
A complete listing signals that you're a serious landowner. Operators who show up professionally expect the same from their landlords.
- BirdDog Adventures — post your property with full details
- Your county Farm Bureau — often has an informal matchmaking function
- Local grain elevator or co-op — they know who's looking for ground
- University extension offices — some maintain farmland listings
- Word of mouth at FSA offices and county USDA offices
- Neighboring farmers — they often know operators who are looking to expand
The best tenants aren't always on public job boards. Referrals from trusted local sources are worth pursuing first.
Once you have interested candidates, conduct a basic phone or in-person interview before going further.
Essential questions:
1. How many acres are you currently farming?
2. What crops are you growing and what's your rotation?
3. Do you own or lease your primary equipment?
4. How many years have you been farming in this area?
5. Can you provide two or three landlord references?
6. What does your cash flow look like in a bad year? (You're looking for stability, not perfection)
7. Are you currently current on all lease payments to other landlords?
What you're listening for: confidence, specificity, and honesty. An experienced operator can answer these questions without hesitation. Vague answers about acreage, equipment, or financial stability are flags.
Don't skip this. Call every reference.
Ask each landlord:
- Did they pay rent on time, every year?
- Did they communicate proactively about field conditions or problems?
- Did they leave the ground in the condition it was in?
- Would you lease to them again?
A single bad year doesn't disqualify someone, but a pattern of late payments, poor communication, or land damage is disqualifying.
You're effectively extending credit. A year of unpaid cash rent plus legal fees to recover it is expensive and time-consuming.
Options for financial verification:
- Ask for consent to a basic credit check
- Request a bank reference or letter of good standing from a farm lender
- Ask about their crop insurance coverage (operators who carry adequate coverage are lower risk)
- Verify they don't have active judgments or liens (public record search)
Most serious, established operators won't object to reasonable financial screening.
Before signing, visit the tenant's current operation — or at minimum, drive by land they currently farm. You're looking for:
- Clean, well-maintained fields
- Properly managed field edges and drainage
- No obvious soil erosion, ruts, or compaction issues
- Equipment that's functional and maintained
A tenant who takes care of their current landlord's land will take care of yours.
Even if you're confident in your selection, start with a one-year term for a new relationship. Set clear expectations:
- Put every agreed-upon term in writing
- Include specific performance standards (pest management, drainage maintenance, weed control)
- Include your right to inspect at any time with reasonable notice
- Define renewal terms: both parties must affirmatively agree to renew
The first year is a trial for both of you. A written, limited-term lease protects both sides while you build the working relationship.
Farm tenant selection is not a transaction — it's the start of a long-term relationship that directly affects your soil, your income, and your land's future value. Take the time to find the right fit, do the screening, and put it in writing.
BirdDog's platform makes it easy to list, screen inquiries, and formalize agreements all in one place.