Modern agriculture likes to present a unified public front in which earnest farmers stress their solidarity and good intentions. Sometimes I half expect them to break into a chorus of "Kumbaya."
That's especially true when it comes to land stewardship. Their unvarying message: We love the land, we respect it, we treat it right.
The overwhelming majority of farmers practice what they preach. They don't overgraze their pastures, they control weeds, they're careful with chemicals, they limit erosion through good farming practices.
Passing on healthy, productive farmland to their children and grandchildren is a big deal to most ag producers. Skeptics might question the sincerity of farmers and ranchers who talk about protecting land for future generations. I don't; most mean what they say.
Farmers and ranchers also are motivated to practice good stewardship by enlightened self-interest. Mistreating the land would jeopardize their livelihood and most important economic asset.
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But there are exceptions. I think of them every fall, when Upper Midwest farmers and landlords begin to negotiate fresh farmland rental agreements. The ugly truth, one that's seldom talked about outside ag, is that a handful of farmers knowingly overpay for land rent -- and then recoup the difference through shameful farming practices. They overgraze their rented pastures, they're careless with chemicals, they save a few bucks by not controlling weeds or limiting erosion. It hurts the land, but they're short-term renters. They don't care what happens after their lease expires.
I have no statistics or numbers, no study or report, to back that up. I just know farmers and others in ag talk about it privately. I just know it happens. Rarely -- but even once is too often.
Again, I have no statistics or numbers, just anecdotal accounts, but I suspect the problem is worsening. A growing number of landlords are two and three generations removed from the farm and often live far away. No doubt they want to protect their land -- enlightened self-interest again -- but they're unfamiliar with modern agriculture and realistic rental rates. They simply don't realize the highest dollar offer isn't necessarily the best offer, or the right choice.
There are many reasons, most innocent, why one farmer offers more money to rent a piece of land. Maybe he's willing to accept a little less potential profit. Maybe he's more efficient and has lower per-acre expenses. Maybe he needs more land because another family member has joined the operation. Or maybe, just maybe, he's offering more money because he expects to recover the higher cost through land-damaging farming practices.
Do your homework
Landowners, especially ones unfamiliar with modern ag, need to do their homework before beginning rent negotiations. Check with other landlords in your area. Talk with your county extension agent or a state extension specialist. Search for reliable, impartial statistics on rental rates. Consider hiring a professional farm management company to evaluate offers for you.
I wouldn't presume to tell landowners they have a moral duty to be good stewards. But I will remind them of where their enlightened self-interest lies.
