Category Archives: Leases

2020 USDA NASS Cash Rental Rate Survey Results Published

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The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently published their 2020 Cash Rental Rate Survey results.  This report provides average cash rental rates by state and by county for irrigated cropland, non-irrigated cropland, and pastureland. Keep in mind these numbers are merely averages based on survey responses provided to USDA.  The lease rate for a particular property will depend on a number of factors such as the quality and quantity of grass, health of the soil, the existence of and quality of fences, access to water, brush situation, average… Read More →

2020 Rural Land Value Trends Report

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Each year, the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers publishes the Texas Rural Land Value Trends report.  This document provides helpful, interesting information for Texas landowners on both average property value and lease rates for agricultural land across the state.  They recently released their 2019 report.  [Click here to download.] The average price per acre in Texas increased by 6.4% from last year to $2,972/acre.  The publication divides the state into 7 regions, and then further divides each region into sub regions. … Read More →

Online Ranchers Leasing Workshop Course Available!

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We are so excited to announce that we are now offering our award-winning Ranchers Leasing Workshop as an online course! In the Online Ranchers Leasing Workshop, participants will be able to obtain all of the information shared at our half-day leasing workshop from the comfort of their own home, anytime, at their own pace by watching Tiffany Lashmet and Dr. Greg Kaase present on video. The course is designed for both landowners and lessees and focuses specifically on grazing, hunting and livestock leases. Tiffany presents on the various… Read More →

March 20, 2020 Weekly Round Up

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Well…a lot has happened since our last Weekly Round Up.  Currently, all of my programs scheduled through March 31 have been postponed, including our Ranchers Leasing Workshop in Abilene.  We have also postponed our Ranchers Leasing Workshop scheduled in La Vernia.  I will ensure that my “Upcoming Presentations” page remains up to date, so to check on the status of any program, click here.  We are working on some potential online programs, including launching our online Ranchers Leasing Workshop course soon. Here are some of the ag law… Read More →

January 10, 2020 Weekly Round Up

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We’re here with our first Round Up of 2020!  We hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  Here are a few of the ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks. *Man arrested for hauling marijuana, turns out it was legal hemp.  The Texas Tribune recently published a story about a man who was arrested for hauling what authorities suspected as being marijuana.  After testing was completed, it turns out that the plants were, as the man claimed, legal hemp.  [Read article here.]  A… Read More →

2019 USDA NASS State and County Cash Rent Survey Results

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Today’s blog post contains maps developed by Dr. Justin Benavidez, our District Economist here in Amarillo.  Dr. Benavidez has been an outstanding addition to our AgriLife faculty and has even taught me–a lawyer–about economics, so you know he’s got to be good!  Dr. Benavidez has a blog, and you can subscribe to receive his posts as emails to you.  Click here to learn more.   If you’re curious what average cash rent rates are in your area, we’ve got the info for you! USDA NASS Cash Rent Survey… Read More →

Ag Land Sale and Grazing Lease Gone Wrong

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The facts underlying the Austin Court of Appeals decision in Marek v. Lehrer are an agricultural real estate deal gone terribly wrong.  This case is a great example of why it is so important to have every agreement  put into writing and timely signed by the parties. Factual Background R.L. Lehrer, a cattle rancher in San Saba County decided to sell 257 acres of his property and to lease the property back to continue grazing his cattle.  He planned to use the proceeds from the property sale and from… Read More →

Common Agricultural Lease Payment Structures

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For agricultural lease agreements, there are normally three types of arrangements utilized: cash leases, crop share leases, and flex/hybrid leases.  There is no right or wrong option to select here so long as the parties can agree on the structure and the details that go along with that selection and understand the potential implications.  It is advisable to visit with an accountant and an attorney before making this type of decision as it can impact a landowner with regard to who will receive government program payments, what self… Read More →

Agricultural Tenants and Eminent Domain Proceeds

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In Texas, a good deal of agricultural land is leased out to tenants that either farm or raise livestock on the land.  Recently, I’ve received a number of questions from agricultural tenants related to their rights in the event some portion of the leased property is impacted by eminent domain. A condemning entity, like a pipeline company, is required to pay just compensation in order to condemn the property needed for the project.  Just compensation is defined as the fair market value of the property at the time… Read More →

November 30, 2018 Weekly Round Up

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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!   Welcome to another Ag Law Round Up. This week, I traveled to Victoria, Texas to visit with landowners there about eminent domain and fence law.  Welcome to those of you joining from that program. Here are some of the ag law stories in the news this week. *US Supreme Court rules on Endangered Species Act case.  The US Supreme Court issued a ruling in a case asking whether, in order to be designated as “critical habitat” under the Endangered Species… Read More →