With steady input costs and lower corn prices, we recommend using a flexible cash rent lease to allow the landowner to participate in the upside if yields and/or commodity prices are favorable. Looking ahead to 2026 lease negotiations – depending on previous lease negotiations – we expect pressure on rental rates and terms if prices do not improve or if yields are insufficient to offset lower grain prices. Farmer demand and competition to rent additional acreage remains strong, which will likely prevent rental rates from decreasing at the same rate as commodity prices.
