Renting vs. Buying Farmland: Which Is Right for You?

Is It Better to Rent or Own Farmland?
When establishing a new farm or expanding your existing agricultural operation, is it better to rent or own your farmland?

About 39% of the 911 million acres of farmland in the contiguous U.S. is rented, according to the latest available data from the USDA.

While livestock producers tend to own their land – rented property represents only 28% of all pastureland – growers are fairly evenly split between renting and owning their farmland. As of 2022, 54% of cropland was rented rather than owned, with a specific concentration on growing cash grains like rice, corn, soybeans, and wheat on that rented acreage. But is one approach better than the other from a financial perspective?

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