Renting land, how and why?

[jazz]

Well, no little guy or even mid level operator around here will ever be able to rent land. Only jacked up BTOs with numbered combines get those gigs. Or else you know the neighbor for like 50 yrs or something.

Then there are the guys that sneak around in the winter whispering in widows ears to steal a quarter here or there.

Its all so dirty.

I bought as much as I could handle, probably more than I should have, and its made way more money than growing crops. And now the BTOs are circling me looking for small timers to swallow.

[jamesb]

We have rented lots over the years and ended up buying most of what we had rented when the owner , usually a retired farmer finally decided it was time to sell. Do the math , don't overpay. There is a lot of guys out there pay unsustainably high rent that has a good chance of not working out.

[bucket]

Well, no little guy or even mid level operator around here will ever be able to rent land. Only jacked up BTOs with numbered combines get those gigs. Or else you know the neighbor for like 50 yrs or something.

Then there are the guys that sneak around in the winter whispering in widows ears to steal a quarter here or there.

Its all so dirty.

I bought as much as I could handle, probably more than I should have, and its made way more money than growing crops. And now the BTOs are circling me looking for small timers to swallow.

We can't be too far away from each other.....same thing here...

My neighbor says guys my size are dinosaurs ...we are done ....just haven't realized it yet....

[farmaholic]

We can't be too far away from each other.....same thing here...

My neighbor says guys my size are dinosaurs ...we are done ....just haven't realized it yet....

....well then, I'm still swimming in the primordial ooze!!!

[MBgrower]

AlbertaFarmer5, u asked how to keep in the loop for land rental? well u need to be like my neigbours, get the municipal township maps, find out who owns what, identify small operators, old owners, etc, then track them down. u call them visit them at least every two months, and pester them about the land. each time u visit them u increase your rental rate by 5/acre. I own most of what i farm, but i do have some nice rental land that ive had for 20 plus years, and i have a couple asshole neighbours that are always after it. its a real shitshow , lots of greed in these parts.

[Sheepwheat]

AlbertaFarmer5, u asked how to keep in the loop for land rental? well u need to be like my neigbours, get the municipal township maps, find out who owns what, identify small operators, old owners, etc, then track them down. u call them visit them at least every two months, and pester them about the land. each time u visit them u increase your rental rate by 5/acre. I own most of what i farm, but i do have some nice rental land that ive had for 20 plus years, and i have a couple asshole neighbours that are always after it. its a real shitshow , lots of greed in these parts.

Accurate post. Generally, if you want in the game that badly, you need to be one of those types. Death beds are not too late. But for goodness sakes, always offer ten or twenty per cent more than the highest offer they have had. Then you can be successful and big.

Land and more money, and more iron. All that matters in life. I would suggest finding out anyone who has cancer, dementia, or has small older equipment. Those are the types who are for sure quitting, it is obvious. Get out there after them. And if you hear that someone has let go of some land, make sure to talk to their other landlords, and let them know their renter is shutting down, or can’t pay. Lie if you need to. It is simply cutting edge business. One of the most effective things to do, is to spread lies about the small guys. Make sure land owners know they cant handle more, that they struggle to pay, that you heard they are quitting. Strategic elevator visits, hospital visits and on farm visits are needed. Be strong. Offer more. Knock on doors. Lie. Doctor the truth.

Then you will be successful, and get more of the things that make you more of of a man. Land, machinery.

It is all that matters. Get out there!

Do not be generous towards those in need. Do not sponsor children in other countries, and for sure do not share your fortune with less fortunate. That is just stupid, and is not what matters in life.

[furrowtickler]

Accurate post. Generally, if you want in the game that badly, you need to be one of those types. Death beds are not too late. But for goodness sakes, always offer ten or twenty per cent more than the highest offer they have had. Then you can be successful and big.

Land and more money, and more iron. All that matters in life. I would suggest finding out anyone who has cancer, dementia, or has small older equipment. Those are the types who are for sure quitting, it is obvious. Get out there after them. And if you hear that someone has let go of some land, make sure to talk to their other landlords, and let them know their renter is shutting down, or can’t pay. Lie if you need to. It is simply cutting edge business. One of the most effective things to do, is to spread lies about the small guys. Make sure land owners know they cant handle more, that they struggle to pay, that you heard they are quitting. Strategic elevator visits, hospital visits and on farm visits are needed. Be strong. Offer more. Knock on doors. Lie. Doctor the truth.

Then you will be successful, and get more of the things that make you more of of a man. Land, machinery.

It is all that matters. Get out there!

Do not be generous towards those in need. Do not sponsor children in other countries, and for sure do not share your fortune with less fortunate. That is just stupid, and is not what matters in life.

Well unfortunately you both are quite accurate. Some will even go out of their way not to support local fellow family farms and buy from other parts of the province for fear of the illusion that the neighbors getting ahead . It’s quite sad actually. But ego and greed drives a lot of human nature. Seems to sort itself out though over time .

[ajl]

Another strategy is to offer big rent and then don't pay. Guy got to farm land for one year around here and then abandoned it in year 2 paying not on dime in rent over the 2 year deal. Heard it from the land owner himself so not hearsay.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Judging by the responses, I guess I should have added the following details:

Not trying to steal rented acres from neighbors, just to be given an opportunity when something does come up,

Not planning to be a crook and not pay

No intentions of being a BTO, but not happy to have a BTO from 100 km away renting in my backyard either( with Clubroot)

[Sheepwheat]

Judging by the responses, I guess I should have added the following details:

Not trying to steal rented acres from neighbors, just to be given an opportunity when something does come up,

Not planning to be a crook and not pay

No intentions of being a BTO, but not happy to have a BTO from 100 km away renting in my backyard either( with Clubroot)

In that case, good luck, you will need all you cane get. I have farmed 27 years, and in that time, have only added a bit of rented land, most of which was usurped by big guys sneaking around behind me. Have one quarter I rent from a very gracious and kind couple. I had put an add in the paper out of sheer desperation. Only land I was able to buy, was land that was offered for tender by a government agency that was on my doorstep. So I bid high. Other than that, I quit even trying to compete. Between deep pocketed neighbors, and cutthroat practicies, I gave up. Losing my dad young certainly was not helpful, as I may as well have moved here from another country. He knew everyone. I do not.

This problem is exactly why I decided to do farming differently. For us, it is our only hope to make a living farming on small acres. Or go organic maybe. We farm in similar regions. Tough to farm due to tight seasons, etc.

Best thing I ever did was look at things differently. Wish I had 20 years ago. Instead of wishing and trying to get more land, I could have had a flock making me a living ten years ago...

[Taiga]

Just get an off farm job, almost guarantee you can make more money, and then the land you do have to farm will most certainly feel like too much to get done.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Just get an off farm job, almost guarantee you can make more money, and then the land you do have to farm will most certainly feel like too much to get done.

Actually, recently mostly gave up on the lucrative off farm job, farming is much more profitable, going to work was costing me money most days. Part of the reason why we would like to keep expanding, much more time available now. We have our expenses well under control, so in spite of challenging years such as this, the farm is still profitable.