Come fall, watching corn turn golden brown and soybeans drop their leaves always brings back memories of sitting atop the 806 disking stalks. It was one of the chores I actually looked forward to when I came home from school.

Those years are long gone. My father exited farming during the ’80s, and with that, farming opportunities for my brother and me faded.

Gaining access to farmland has long been a challenge for farmers. However, new opportunities for accessing land are becoming available, helping farmers to get started or grow their operations.

As I researched farmland owners for the article Who owns the most farmland in Illinois?, I came across two interesting funds that offer alternative access to farmland. A third, the nonprofit The Land Connection, offers Illinois FarmLink, another unique service that connects farmers with landowners. Here’s a look:

Sustainable Land Management Partners. One relatively new entrant to the Illinois land market is the investment fund SLM Partners. The company collaborates with institutional investors to buy and manage farmland using sustainable farming practices.

For farmers, SLM offers an opportunity to lease land that’s managed under regenerative principles, without high upfront costs of land ownership. SLM offers 10-year lease agreements to farmers who have at least three years’ experience in organic production on 200-plus acres. Check out the application page online.

Related:Have Illinois farmland prices peaked?

Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT. Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT specializes in financing organic and regenerative farming. An REIT is a real estate investment trust, and Iroquois Valley provides long-term leases and mortgages, offering a pathway to farm ownership or expansion for those who might otherwise be priced out of the market.

Along with financing, Iroquois Valley offers support through its network of organic and regenerative farmers. You can find the application page online, too.

Illinois FarmLink. Illinois FarmLink matches landowners with farmers, creating opportunities for both parties. If you’re in an area dominated by large farm operations, this program could help by offering free advisory services and an online “dating” app for farmers and landowners.

Nathan Aaberg, director of Illinois FarmLink, says they work with landowners to help them think through how they want their land farmed and to help them find farmers who share their vision. Illinois FarmLink takes landowners to visit organic farms and helps them work through complex leasing agreements. The organization also supports regenerative and organic farmers by putting them in touch with landowners who share their vision.

Aaberg is a member of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and believes in building relationships over time.

Some options for farmland access may look different — but for those willing to adapt, the opportunities are growing.