Whole Farm > Leasing > Share Leases
Updated August, 2021
File C2-32
Fixed Bushel Rent
Fixed bushel rents are a form of flexible lease that can be developed for cropland. With this lease the tenant gives the landowner a fixed number of bushels of corn or soybeans as rent. For example, the rent for the corn cropland may be 60 bushels of corn per acre, and 20 bushels of soybeans per acre for the soybean cropland. The landowner can sell the grain, store it for later sale, or use the grain in another fashion.
Computing the Number of Bushels
The methods used to compute an equitable bushel rent are the same as the methods used in Information File C2-21, Flexible Farm Lease Agreements. These methods involve determining the number of bushels needed to generate a rental rate similar to the rate generated with a crop-share lease or a cash rent lease.
An important difference between a Fixed Bushel Lease and the Share of Gross Revenue Lease as outlined in Information File C2-21, is that rent under a Share of Gross Revenue Lease is based on a share of the current year’s actual yield while the rent under a Fixed Bushel Lease is based on a fixed number of bushels and does not change from year to year.
This has implications for government payments. To be eligible for government payments, the landowner must share "production risk" with the tenant. However, because rent is a fixed number of bushels, the landowner is not eligible to participate in these programs and all the payments go to the tenant. Of course, to compensate, the tenant can transfer some of this money to the landowner or increase the number of bushels. Also, consult with the USDA Farm Service Agency for ways of handling Marketing Loans and Loan Deficiency Payments, if applicable.
Converting to a Flexible Cash Rent
Because some landowners don’t want to be involved in marketing grain, the lease can be developed so that the landowner doesn’t take physical possession of the grain. Instead, the tenant pays the landowner an amount of cash rent equal to the value of the landowners’s share of the crop.
For example, assume the landowner’s rent is computed as the value of 60 bushels of corn. Specify dates and sources in the lease for recording local cash prices. These prices are multiplied by the number of bushels to determine rent. For example, if 60 bushels per acre is multiplied by the local cash price of $4.00, the rent is $240 per acre ($4.00 x 60 bushels = $240).
Risk Reduction
As grain prices rise, the value of the landowner’s bushels increases and rent goes up. Conversely, rent goes down if grain prices drop. For example: Assume the corn fixed bushel rent is 60 bu. and alternative corn prices are $4.50, $4.00, and $3.50 corn prices
- 60 bushels x $4.50 = $270 rent per acre
- 60 bushels x $4.00 = $240 rent per acre
- 60 bushels x $3.50 = $210 rent per acre
However, rent from a fixed bushel lease does not adjust due to changes in yield. The landowner receives a fixed number of bushels regardless of whether there is a bumper crop or a crop failure. For example, assume the corn price is $3.50 and alternative corn yields of 150, 180 and 210 bushels per acre. At these yields, 60 bushels is the equivalent of 40%, 33% and 29% of corn production, respectively.
- 60 bushels x $4.50 = $270 rent per acre
- 60 bushels x $4.50 = $270 rent per acre
- 60 bushels x $4.50 = $270 rent per acre
Although a fixed bushel lease is meant to reduce the tenant’s risk, it may actually increase their risk. Crop prices and yields are often not independent of each other. Widespread drought often leads to rising prices while bumper crops often lead to declining prices. Because the lower (higher) yield is offset by a higher (lower) price, the impact of these changes on the tenant’s income is reduced. However, by allowing rent to vary due to changes in prices, but not yields, rent may actually increase (decrease) in years when the tenant’s income remains the same or actually decreases (increases).
Conclusion
A fixed bushel lease should only be used when production risk is relatively low, such as for land under irrigation, or in locations where poor crops rarely occur. In other cases, safeguards can be built into the lease such as reducing the bushels of rent if yields fall below a certain level. Likewise, bonus bushels could be paid to the landlord in years of bumper crops. However, in this case, basing rent on a fixed percent of the actual yield may be preferred to a fixed bushel rent. Purchasing crop insurance will also help reduce the risk of low yields. You may want to choose a yield insurance policy rather than one of the revenue insurance products. Also, don’t forget the rules for government program participation.
Don Hofstrand, retired extension agricultural business specialist, agdm@iastate.edu
William Edwards, retired economist. Questions?
