Cropland rental rates drop

The average per acre rental cost of Rock County’s non-irrigated cropland dropped $10 in the past two years, according to information released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The report released Sept. 9 shows Rock County’s average cash rent price declined from $247 in 2014 to $237 this year.
According to USDA spokesman Dan Lofthus, his office sends out random surveys to farm operators asking about rental rates of non-irrigated, irrigated and pasture lands. The county cash rent surveys began in 2008 and occur every two years.
The surveys don’t ask why rental rates declined, but Lofthus speculated that low commodity prices might be the primary factor in the lower rates.
“Low prices over time correlate change in rental rates,” he said.
The same $10 decline was experienced statewide with non-irrigated cropland rent averaging $170 per acre this year, down from $160.
Dodge County had the highest average cash rent at $253 per acre followed by McLeod County at $248 per acre. Sibley ($247), Freeborn ($243) and Martin ($242) counties round out the Top Five.
Despite the decline, Rock County still had the highest average cash rent of the nine counties in the report’s southwest area.
Overall, southwest Minnesota cash rents declined an average of $19 per acre to $201.
Pipestone County averaged $175 per acre, down $15 from two years ago. Nobles County decreased $4 ($207) and Murray County was down $21 to $191 per acre.
Rock County did reach the top five in the highest pasture cash rent category with $61 per acre, up $2.50 from two years ago.
Lac Qui Parle County topped the state on pastureland rental with $64.50 per acre. The state’s average pastureland per acre rental is $30 per acre, up $2 from two years ago.