Category Archives: Leases

USDA Releases 2024 Cash Rent Data

Each year, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a nationwide survey to gather data and compile a report showing average cash rental rates across the United States.  These results are based upon the survey responses from landowners and producers around the country.  Please note that all reported cash rent amounts are listed in a per acre/per year format. To view the database with the data for each state, click here.  To view the database with data for each county in the US, click here. To see a… Read More →

August 2, 2024 Weekly Round Up

It has been a fast and furious summer here, and we have fallen behind on our bi-weekly round ups.  We are here today to help get you caught up on the biggest ag law news around the country! *Court rules Massachusetts’ Question 3 is not preempted by Federal Meat Inspection Act.  A Massachusetts federal court recently ruled that Massachusetts’ Question 3, a ballot initiative banning the sale of pork that is not raised in accordance with certain practices, is not preempted by the Federal Meat Inspection Act as… Read More →

2023 Rural Land Value Trends Report Is Here!

Each year, the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers publishes a Rural Land Value Trends report.  This is one of the best documents available for those interested in the sales value and lease value of rural lands in Texas.  It is also the only publication of which I am aware that provides information on the value of hunting leases. The 2023 report was just released in April 2024.  Click here to download. This report breaks Texas into seven regions and then each… Read More →

USDA NASS Publishes Cash Lease Data for 2023

Each year, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a nationwide survey to gather data and compile a report showing average cash rental rates across the United States.  These results are based upon the survey responses from landowners and producers around the country.  Please note that all reported cash rent amounts are listed in a per acre/per year format. To view the database with the data for each state, click here.  To view the database with data for each county in the US, click here. Tp see a… Read More →

2022 Texas Rural Land Value Trends Published

Each year, the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers publishes a Rural Land Value Trends report.  This is one of the best documents available for those interested in the sales value and lease value of rural lands in Texas.  It is also the only publication of which I am aware that provides information on the value of hunting leases. The 2022 report was just released in April 2023.  Click here to download. This report breaks Texas into seven regions and then each… Read More →

March 10, 2023 Weekly Round Up

Once again, it has been a busy couple of weeks on the agricultural law front.  Here are some of the key ag law stories in the news. *US Supreme Court will not hear New Mexico stream access case.  The United States Supreme Court has denied a Petition for Certiorari in  Chama Troutstalkers, LLC v. Adobe Whitewater Club of New Mexico.  You may recall from this prior blog post that the New Mexico Supreme Court held laws allowing landowners to close portions of streams on private property were unconstitutional.  This… Read More →

Case Illustrates Importance of Farm Leases Being in Writing

We have another reminder of the importance of putting agricultural leases in writing.  This one comes from the Texarkana Court of Appeals in Coniglio v. Woods. [Read opinion here.] Background Candido John Coniglio, Sr. (“Senior”) owned a 5,100 acre farm in Fannin County which was managed by his son, Candido John Coniglio, Jr. (“Junior”). Michael Woods owned the adjacent farm. Woods hired workers to cut hay on his property.  Senior agreed to allow Woods to cut and bale 107 acres of hay on Senior’s property in exchange for giving… Read More →

USDA-NASS Releases 2022 Cash Rent Report

Each year, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts a nationwide survey to gather data and compile a report showing average cash rental rates across the United States.  Please note that all reported cash rent amounts are listed in a per acre/per year format. To view the database with the data for each state, click here.  To view the database with data for each county in the US, click here.  To view the report for Texas, broken down by region and county, click here. Here’s how things broke… Read More →

Rights of First Refusal and the Importance of Record Notice

A right of first refusal can be a good way to ensure a person has an option to purchase property before it is sold to another.  However, as the Amarillo Court of Appeals recently considered in Mr. W. Fireworks, Inc. v. 731 Properties, LLC, certain steps must be taken to ensure enforceability of this right.  [Read opinion here.] Background Mr. W Fireworks, Inc. (“Mr. W”) owns fireworks stands across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.  One of its stands is on Soncy Road in Amarillo on land that it leased… Read More →

April 29, 2022 Weekly Round Up

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of April, but here we are!  Lots of agricultural law news happening around the country. *Article highlights nuance with 10% cap on residence homestead tax.  My colleague, Dr. Blake Bennett, recently published a fact sheet looking at a nuance within the Texas Property Code related to the 10% cap on the yearly increase for residence homestead taxes in Texas.  The Texas Property Code places a 10% limitation on the amount a County Appraisal District may increase the appraised… Read More →