Leasing Pasture

“Pasture lease rates” is one of the searches we see most often at On Pasture. We’ve published a lot of articles on how to determine rental rates and how to write up a lease agreement, etc. (just click to see them) but I’m guessing that many of you would still like to see a number […]

In his book “No Risk Ranching” Greg Judy describes how he went from liquidating his cow herd and almost losing the family farm, to paying off the farm and home loan in three years by custom grazing on leased land. Since then, Greg has been traveling the country telling folks how to grow a successful […]

In his book “No Risk Ranching” Greg Judy describes how he went from liquidating his cow herd and almost losing the family farm, to paying off the farm and home loan in three years by custom grazing on leased land. If you know Greg’s name, it’s because he has become an evangelist for growing a […]

David Widmar of Agricultural Economic Insights says that “2016 will be marked as the year cash rental rates began to decline at the national level.” But while that’s true at the national scale, he notes that “it’s important to keep in mind conditions often vary at the state and county levels.” He draws these insights from the […]

This is the second part in Meg’s series on Custom Grazing. Here’s the link to the first in the series. Contract Structuring The way I like to set up custom grazing contracts is this: the owner pays me per head per day for my labor. This is the income I get to keep on the […]

Meg is back with the first in a two-part series to help you get started in the custom grazing business.

That’s what Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agriculture law specialist, says. “You never know what might happen between two folks with an oral lease, even if they are family or the best of friends,” she said. “Lease agreements certainly do not have to be lengthy and complex, but there are some terms you need to […]

Here’s Part 2 of Meg’s series on non-traditional ways to make a farming/ranching operation successful. Today, she’s talking about (almost) free land.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different, better result is the definition of insanity, right? That’s why, in looking at ways to get started farming and help current producers be more profitable, Meg started thinking outside the box. Here are some non-traditional solutions you’ll really like!

Farm lease agreements can be complex legal documents, but they don’t have to be.  Behind every legal provision there is a meaning, a purpose and a potential benefit to both parties of having such language in the lease.  I sometimes work through lease agreements with farmers or landowners, and witness their eyes glazing over when […]

Here’s a resource you might like to have.

Businessman Nido Qubein said, “Change brings opportunity.”  With the volatility of conventional milk prices and the surging interest in local beef and organic grass-fed dairy products, change is in the air for farmers and ranchers working to keep local agriculture strong. And, even if you don’t own land or cattle, or milk the cows you can become […]

Here’s the final article in our series on how to figure Pasture Rental Rates.  If you’ve missed the first three, here they are: How Much Should You Pay to Lease Pasture? Pasture Rental Rates: Doing the Math Part 1 Pasture Rental and Use Rate: Animal Units and Profit Sharing All pasture is not created equal. Some […]

Here’s more math for figuring out how to feed our livestock while making a good living on leased pasture. Even if math isn’t your strong suit, we take it one step at a time so that it’s as easy as it can be.

Math is hard but important. So we’re going to try to work through this without hoping for a miracle to occur.