2023 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 32 2023 Logan County Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2023 By Kevin Brooks, Illinois Extension Farm Business Management and Marketing educator Most relationships between landowners and farm tenants are solid with mutual respect. However, I’ve seen more than a few of what I would describe as “bad” owner/ farmer relationships. Even more problematic in some ways is when the relationship is stale. Landowners hire farm managers for various reasons. One reason is that the owner perceives communication issues with their farmer. More than one might think, many landowners who have never farmed themselves feel unqualified to have frank discussions with their farmer and may feel intimidated. Some farmers struggle to communicate with landowners, and some are concerned their landowner may learn too much and be more demanding. Other farmers do not realize Communication strengthens the farmer and landowner relationship their landowner is frustrated. On very few occasions, I have found strained relationship to not be repairable. I believe that being proactive on both sides helps the farmer/owner relationship flow smoothly. Anecdotally, I find the best farms out there are a result of a strong and open relationship between the landowner and farmer. For example, if a farmer knows that drainage tile is needed, it is a hard sell to get a landowner to pay for drainage improvements, if the owner has not been engaged in what is going on the farm. Here are some suggestions for both sides to consider using to help the relationship become and remain strong: FARMER: Ask how often the owner wants communication, how they want to be contacted, and what information they want/ need. OWNER: Tell the farmer how often you want communication, how you want to be contacted, and what information you want. Continued --