Not racist, and yes, no Harvard Scholar here.  This is just one of things that get's me all fired up.  When did it become acceptable to agree to multi-year rental agreements that we know are to high, just because we gotta have the acres, or can't let the neighbor have it - knowing full well that our intentions are to come back crying to the LL that we can no longer pay that price?  Last time I checked around here, those that are "reneging", have really nice toys, extra vacation houses and the such.  When the day comes that I am a LL, unless there is some unexpected hardship like a major illness in the family, a deal is a deal. And when the lease comes up for renewal, there will be a new tenant.  There are lot of really good farmers that would like more ground but have enough honor to know that they cannot pay those prices for 5 years ( and likely neither can the high bidder as is being proven currently), so they won't even bid.  I often wonder where in the generations this became acceptable behavior.  No way would my grandfather's generation do that....but somehow now, my generation and younger think its ok.....