Crop rent thoughts?

[madplotter]

Our Mahaska county farm averages 72-76 CSR2 with the poor land enrolled in CRP so it is easy to farm. What is everyone expecting for 2026 crop rent rates? Pretty much unimproved with only the best field tiled and terraced.

We run around $213

 

[sep0667]

I have a rather hilly 20 acres of tillable. 5-7 of it is pretty hilly. 55csr at $170/acre rent this year.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

Seems in ballpark. Maybe a hair low.

Most farms in my area are 45-55 csr and rent averages 200.

I get 225 on a csr mid 70s farm. Would be easy to get 250 if a guy wanted.

 

[Hardwood11]

I get slightly over $250 on 80 CSR soil in Western IA

 

[Trapshooter1]

Land rents here in NEIA are pretty strong. Even with commodities not so great. Id say they range from 300-475. And everything in between. 80-90CSR2 land will bring towards the upper end of the range, depending on how much tile it has and who wants it. 300 dollars an acre here is looking cheap.

 

[Muskrat24]

Land rents here in NEIA are pretty strong. Even with commodities not so great. Id say they range from 300-475. And everything in between. 80-90CSR2 land will bring towards the upper end of the range, depending on how much tile it has and who wants it. 300 dollars an acre here is looking cheap.

What type of corn and bean yield averages would be expected from that ground?

 

[Muskrat24]

Land rents here in NEIA are pretty strong. Even with commodities not so great. Id say they range from 300-475. And everything in between. 80-90CSR2 land will bring towards the upper end of the range, depending on how much tile it has and who wants it. 300 dollars an acre here is looking cheap.

What type of corn and bean yield averages would be expected from that ground?

 

[newfarmer]

Land rents here in NEIA are pretty strong. Even with commodities not so great. Id say they range from 300-475. And everything in between. 80-90CSR2 land will bring towards the upper end of the range, depending on how much tile it has and who wants it. 300 dollars an acre here is looking cheap.

Same in this area- but again- it’s great soil.

 

[Trapshooter1]

Muskrat24. Yields vary but on the best ground on a good year. Black ground, Tiled every 30-40 foot, with a slight roll. 230-260 Bushel corn is attainable. Soybeans are more variable here. There is a lot of corn on corn grown here. Most of the corn stalks get ripped and or chiseled and soil finished/cultivated in the spring. To much water is our nemesis here, Ill take little to no rain for 3 weeks. Than the monsoons we get sometimes. Like right now the ground is full and tile is running. It could quit raining right now till the middle of June and it wouldnt break my heart.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

250 bu corn was pretty common last year on csr 50 dirt in southern Iowa. As was 70+ bu beans

 

[booneriverbucks]

how many acres and how is the access?? Not specific to your post but there is a lot of chopped up, odd shaped pieces with decent csrs that people are complaining about crp payments compared to cash rent.. CSR is not everything if it’s odd shaped or good access is limited to the surrounding landowner only and no road access etc.

 

[Hardwood11]

I saw some January corn prices at $5 … good sign for farmers.

 

[letemgrow]

I saw some January corn prices at $5 … good sign for farmers.

Not a great start if these break even prices hold true for most farmers.

"In comparison, estimated national average break-even prices, the price needed to cover total production costs, i.e., variable and fixed production expenses, are approximately $5 per bushel for corn, $12.27 per bushel for soybeans and $7.96 per bushel for wheat."

Risk Management Options for 2026: Corn, Soybeans and Wheat

www.fb.org

 

[Hardwood11]

Not a great start if these break even prices hold true for most farmers.

"In comparison, estimated national average break-even prices, the price needed to cover total production costs, i.e., variable and fixed production expenses, are approximately $5 per bushel for corn, $12.27 per bushel for soybeans and $7.96 per bushel for wheat."

Risk Management Options for 2026: Corn, Soybeans and Wheat

www.fb.org

I see that. It really depends on many factors . If yields are high, there is profit . Farmers that own the ground might have lower expenses.

It’s nice to see it get back up there. It was $3.90 in August of 2024, 3.96 in July of 2025.

Hopefully fertilizer drops by next fall, fortunately 80% of the farmers had locked in lower prices ! That helps some.

 

[booneriverbucks]

Gross income matters to those that actually farm.. a crp payment that nets more than actively farming might be good for a landlord or rec ground owner but it doesn’t help people actually trying to make a living and advance their farming operation. We need those people. Without them our CRP payments wouldn’t be squat. Lots of equipment, labor, etc. factored into the cost of production. These costs drive the economy all over the state. Lots of people make a little income off of the $800-1000+ an acre of corn crop grosses. A stable ag economy is great for hunting.. it protects what we love more than anything.. It’s all great to think about more cheap rec ground being available with a bad farm economy but the long term reality is more housing developments and more anti’s moving out from the city. Ag is the number one protector of hunting access for the majority of residents in the state. It’s not all bad some farmers want a few more deer killed every now and then.

 

[madplotter]

These are good discussions to have. Some places it is nearly taboo to discuss. Thanks all...