The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service will be contacting Minnesota farmers and ranchers to gather land rental rate information for the Cash Rents and Leases survey.

The results of this survey will serve as a valuable decision-making tool for farmers, ranchers and other landowners and will help shape negotiations for 2017 rental agreements. NASS will publish average cash rental rates at national, state and county levels for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland, and pastureland on September 9, 2016.

NASS to survey Minnesota farmers about land rental rates

“This brief survey is our only source of county cash rental rates,” said Dan Lofthus, NASS Minnesota Field Office state statistician. “Since the last rental rate survey was conducted two years ago, it is critical for producers to respond and provide updated information for their area. By responding, farmers help provide the most up-to-date information that will be used by the Farm Service Agency and other USDA agencies to help develop and administer federal farm programs that they rely on.”

More than 9,400 Minnesota farmers have already been sent the survey form in the mail.

NASS also offers the option of responding online via a secure Internet connection.

In April, NASS representatives will begin calling and visiting operators who have not yet responded.

“We guarantee confidentiality of all individual information, regardless of the response method participants choose, as required by federal law,” Lofthus said. “NASS will combine your responses with your fellow producers nationwide, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of U.S. average rent and lease rates.”

For more information about the Cash Rents and Leases survey, call the NASS Minnesota Field Office at 651-728-3113. All NASS reports and data are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.