MU Extension researchers invite Missouri landowners, farmers, ranchers and hunters to participate in the 2024 Missouri Cash Rental Rate Survey to inform land value trends and aid in informed decision-making.
Roughly 35% of Missouri crop, pasture and woodland acreage is leased to renters every year. Rented acreage has increased recently, as more land has transitioned to the next generation, interest rates have incentivized land investments and interest in carbon markets and working land conservation has surged.
“Every producer wants to know three things: what the weather is going to do, the future price of grain or livestock and what is the going rate for land. This assessment helps with the latter,” said Ben Brown, MU Extension agricultural economist. “The results from this survey can help MU Extension provide information relevant to today’s farm managers, hunters, ranchers and landowners. This is the only public source of information in the state, and the more Missourians that participate in the survey will only increase the accuracy and value of the findings.”
The 2024 Missouri Cash Rental Rate Survey collects rental agreement information for cropland, pasture, woodland hunting, building and facility rental, hay ground, livestock stocking rates and future expectations. The results will be published on the MU Extension website and will be available at local county offices.
“As a producer, having this aggregated information of local markets allows me to compare my management practices to other producers’ practices,” said Doug James, a Missouri corn, soybean and cattle producer. “In today’s agricultural environment, the applied farm management information supplied by the University of Missouri is crucial to the many business decisions I have to make.”
Hunters may also use the survey results summary to gauge an appropriate rate to pay for hunting privileges. Mid-Missouri hunter Jack Winn said, “Hunting lease evaluation includes land quality, habitat viability, contract specifications and available species. The resources produced from the Missouri Cash Rental Rate Survey provide guidance as a tenant when assessing hunting leases.”
Participants can complete the survey in 5-10 minutes in complete anonymity—to participate electronically, go to https://bit.ly/MORentalRates. Paper surveys are also available at local MU Extension county offices. Brown encourages Missourians to submit their responses before the July 15, 2024, deadline.
If landowners or tenants have questions about how to use data to make decisions about a rental agreement, they are encouraged to contact an MU Extension specialist for assistance.
“Accurate rental rate summaries give educators information regarding local markets to assist both tenants and landowners in this very important decision,” said Katie Neuner, MU Extension field specialist in agricultural business in Lafayette County. “Working with an MU Extension specialist allows producers access to knowledge and expertise that can be hard to find elsewhere.”