The changing characteristics of farmland ownership and leases can create opportunities for farmers looking to expand their operations. Iowa State University just released the 2017 Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey.
Wendong Zhang and Alejandro Plastina, both assistant professors of economics at ISU presented the findings, as well as historical perspectives.
Here are seven facts to consider and trends to watch.
1. 82% of Iowa farmland is owned debt-free.
2. Of the 30 million acres of farmland in Iowa, 47% is owner controlled and 53% is leased.
3. More than half of all land in Iowa has been owned by the same owner for over 20 years, and 20% has been owned by the same owner for over 40 years.
4. Cash rental agreements comprise more than 80% of all Iowa farmland leases.
5. Leasing relationships on 60% of Iowa farmland have been in place for less than 10 years, while the remaining 40% include leasing relationships that have been in place for over a decade.
6. In 1982, only 1% of Iowa farmland was owned in trust. In 2017, 20% is owned in a trust.
7. Around 35% of Iowa farmland is owned by owners with no farming experience, while 23% of land is owned by retired farmers.
The Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey compiled by Iowa State University is the first and only consistent data collection of land ownership and tenure in the nation. The 2017 survey included responses from 535 farmland owners.
