Rented a new piece of ground back in the summer (100 acres). It was too late to plant anything this year, so I negotiated a deal that runs through next fall with option to renew. I wrote a check on the spot.

Last week, I ran into the landowner. He wants to rent it for two, or more, additional years. Catch is, he needs money and wants the money up front. In addition, he tagged on an extra $10/ac.

Long and short, I would have three years of rent paid before I ever planted the first seed.  The rent is cheap compared to what many of you pay, but it is higher than any I pay here.  Our yields are variable and this farm does not have racehorse dirt.

Thoughts?

Can someone e-mail me a copy of a simple cash rent agreement? Believe it or not, we have always done business with our landlords on a handshake, but this one has an odor to it.