Warren County Farm Rental Rates

Estimating average farm rental rates in Warren County is a challenging proposition due to the changing nature of agriculture in the county. Parcel sizes for farming are shrinking, small acreage ownership is on the rise and the challenge of moving large farm equipment around the county has never been more difficult. Compounding the problem of estimating farm rental rates in the county is the reluctance of many landowners and farmers to share their own rental agreements with others.

However, the National Agricultural Statistics Service for the first time released a county-by-county cash rental average which is reported in the chart below:

Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service (2008)

As a comparison to other counties found in the survey, the following table is provided:

Statistically, Warren County’s farm ground is as productive as other areas in the Southwestern region. However, the primary difference between Warren County and the majority of the counties in the region is the size of the individual farms. In a survey of Warren County farmers (1999), the primary factor determining the rental rate for a parcel of ground was the amount of tillable acreage. Farms over 50 acres rented for an average of $20 more per acre than those under 50 acres. Beyond farm size, reasons for the $20 difference in rental rate included location, ease of access and movement of equipment.

A 2009 survey of Warren County farmers by this office indicates that a wide range still exists for farm rental prices paid in the county. In fact, the range for rent paid per acre stretched from under $40 to over $150 per acre.

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