AMES (ISU) – Iowa State University Extension is conducting farmland leasing meetings at 10 different central Iowa sites, including five within the Farm News coverage area starting Tuesday through Aug. 22

Topics to be covered include:

+ Iowa cash rental rate survey and land values survey.

+ Comparison of different types of leases.

+ Writing & terminating a farm lease.

+ Impacts of yields and prices.

+ Calculating a fair cash rent.

+ Use of spreadsheets to compare leases.

+ Crop cost and margin estimates for 2014.

+ ISU Extension resources.

“These meetings are designed to help landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with current issues related to farmland ownership, management, and leasing agreements,” said Steve Johnson, farm and agriculture business management specialist with ISU Extension.

Meetings will last approximately 2.5 hours and will be facilitated by Johnson.

Pre-registration is required at least two days before the meeting and a $20 per individual or $30 per couple fee is payable at the door.

Registrants will also receive a 100-page booklet containing farmland leasing information.

The four sites within Farm News’ coverage area are:

+ Boone: 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Boone County Fairgrounds, 1601 Industrial Park Road. Contact (515) 432-3882.

+ Altoona: 7 p.m. on July 31 at the Polk County Extension office, 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A. Contact (515) 957-5760.

+ Nevada: 9 a.m. on Aug. 1 at the Story Copunty Extension office, 220 H Ave.. Contact (515) 382-6551.

+ Adel: 9 a.m. on Aug. 5 at the Adel Public Library, 303 S. 10th St. Contact (515) 993-4281.

+ Marshalltown: 7 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Marshall County Extension office, 2608 S. Second St., lower level. Contact (641) 752-1551.