SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting Illinois 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 tool for farmers and ranchers to use in future rental agreement negotiations. Cash rent information is also used in the Conservation Reserve Program as an alternate soil rental rate prior to finalizing new rates each year.
“This brief survey is our only source of county cash rental rates,” said Illinois State Statistician Mark Schleusener. “By responding, producers help the farming community and ensure USDA bases its decisions on the most accurate data.”
NASS will publish average cash rental rates for non-irrigated cropland, irrigated cropland, and pastureland. State-level averages will be published on August 6 and county-level statistics will be available on Aug. 27.
More than 9,000 of Illinois’ farmers will receive the survey forms. NASS offers the option of responding online via a secure internet connection. In March, NASS representatives will begin calling farm operators who have not yet responded.
“NASS combines producer responses in each county in Illinois, providing the only accurate and comprehensive estimate of average Illinois county rent and lease rates. I encourage all Illinois producers to complete their survey and return it online or through the mail,” Schleusener added.
For more information about the Cash Rents and Leases survey, call the NASS Heartland Field Office at (800) 551-1014. All NASS reports and data are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
