What to do?

flying belgian · May 25, 2009

Wife is trustee of 160 acres of family farm ground. Renter called today to say that last weeks 50+ mile/hr. wind severely damaged about 1/4 of the corn. It is lite sandy soil and blows quite easy. We went to look at it and it really is a mess. Corn was about 3" tall and it just killed every bit that was above ground. Renter said he thinks it will come back but it will cut yield. I dug up several seedlings and I think it will all come back too. He did not come right out and ask for an adjustment in rent but I think that was the reason for phone call. He is paying high side of average county rent. Wife don't now if she should make adjustment in this years rent as kind of a good will gesture and if so how much? Any opinions appreciated.

amo · May 25, 2009

Wait a month and see what the field looks like then

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2009

Don't worry about it. That's the risk the tenant takes when he agrees to pay whatever the rental rate that you both agree on. If he doesn't like it, sorry Charlie, I'm sure there are plenty of others willing to rent your ground.

Kemper · May 25, 2009

Thats the renters problem, not yours,he should have crop insurance for things like this, after all it"s not your fault it greensnaped...

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2009

As a farmer who rents ground I need landlords like you. I wouldn't even think about askin you to adjust the rent in the event of a crop failure. It aint your problem. Of course in a really good year I wouldn't expect you to ask for more rent either... although I may give a bonus and we have before. If you want to take on some risk and possibly make more profit then do it on shares but be ready to lose you tail in a bad year.

Michael Soldan · May 25, 2009

The renter pays you for the use of your land..whether good or bad years or whether he leaves it fallow...it has nothing to do with you. Crop insurance is available for bad years and conditions, if he doesn't carry any that's his problem. As was already pointed out does he give you extra rent when he has an exceptional year...you owe him nothing
What you want to do for a renter who has been a long time and faithful tenant is strictly up to you but since he doesn't compensate you on good years you are not obliged to compensate him on bad ones.Fellow who rents land from my SIL put fall wheat in way too late..had to tear it up this spring..that's his fault for poor farming practices =NO REFUND. He will get soys in but he lost his seed fuel and time.

Mark-Mi · May 25, 2009

On really good years he has given you a bonus.
Yea right.It's on him.
I have had much worse disasters and never asked for a penny back.Figured if I did somebody else would be farming it next time contract was up.
Mark

Don-Wi · May 25, 2009

I'm gonna chime in as well here- It's not your problem, and no way do you owe him anything because of a problem with the weather. If YOU did something to hurt the harvest, then sure but not for the weather.

Donovan from Wisconsin

MarkB_MI · May 25, 2009

Seems to me that he should have taken more care with his tilling practices. Were the neighbors fields in the same shape? If not, he's got some 'splaining to do.

I assume that this is straight cash rent. Did you get a windfall for the past two years when grain prices went through the roof? Probably not, but he sure did.

bradk · May 25, 2009

That's what crop insurance is for.Not your problem.

GeneMO · May 25, 2009

If you are cash renting, then it is not you problem. No way, no how. Period.

That is the nature of farming.

Plus, the growing point of small corn is below the 4th leaf. you can mow it off and it will come back. The wind may interfere with that recovery process.

I have advised farmer with hail damage to young corn to mow it off. It will come back.

Gen

S.Crum · May 25, 2009

If you rent a house and it burns down and you the renter lose your posessions it's your loss. That's why there's renter's insurance. The landlord's insurance is for the house and liability not the renter's loss.

504-2 · May 25, 2009

My renter lost all of the wheat straw last year and hasn t been on my place this year but I cashed his check.

Ultradog MN · May 25, 2009

I don't have land but do rent a couple of houses out. Tough economy up there and I know both tennants are working hard but struggling. Mostly they are keeping up but it doesn't hurt to have a sense of humor and a bit of charity in your heart. Things happen you didn't expect. Might be hard to find better tennants. Might go empty for a few months. Maybe in your case a season. I'd have a look at how much you need to get by and if there was a little extra somewhere maybe forget a few details on the lease. We all know what goes around comes around. Here or somewheres better.

John B. · May 25, 2009

If it's only three inches tall it will come out of it.

The growing point of corn is under ground until it develops it's 5th and 6th leaf.
It shouldn't even set it back. It will just look bad until the next leaves shoot out.

John B. · May 25, 2009

I forgot to mention that I would not make any adjustments.

The insurance companies around ST. Louis say there is not crop until the seed is developed. So I would say if the farmer wants to replant let him at his cost, if not see what the current plants produce and be sure you get to see all the weigh tickets.

Clodbuster · May 25, 2009

I have had some corn get windburned like that and could make a whole round on half mile rows with an 8 row 30" head at harvest. Irrigated on good ground, nothing but nubbins for ears. I am glad I plant several different genetics as some were not that bad.

I paid my rent, took a hit and made it to the next year to hope for better times. It is also hard as a landlord to see $7 corn and get greedy on rent when the farmer may have a bunch of corn contracted in the 2's and have a good year but not a super year.

If the rent is in an average range it will be fair to both of you in the long run. I also agree that if you and the renter want to even the risk then go on shares so that you can pull the trigger on selling grain only at the top. Good luck on that one!

Janicholson · May 25, 2009

JohnB is on target. I have seen Wood chucks eat corn to the ground (then meet a early demise) and the corn grew fully after reemerging. a non issue.
Think of the thousand times you have seen the first leaves on a stalk. they are dead and hanging about 6 inches off the ground in 20 days. JimN

Ray · May 25, 2009

I think the renter has a lot of nerve,you didn't guarantee him a crop did you?If he gets a good crop does he pay you extra? It doesn't matter what he pays,he agreed to the price.I always get a written contract.

IaGary · May 25, 2009

I rent from 7 different landlords.

Not a one of them would give me an adjustment.

And one of the landlords is my mother.

That is why we as farmers carry crop insurance,

If you give him a refund do you have any land I can rent?

Gary

fixerupper · May 25, 2009

If he's enrolled in the farm program I don't think the trust can do any adjusting to the rent in the middle of the lease term or the trust will become his partner, in the FSA's eyes. Have your wife go to or call the county FSA office and get this from them to be sure. That will give your wife some ammunition.

My neighbor went through this a couple of years ago, only my neighbor was the renter, and the landlord wanted to set up a flexible lease stating an additional rent payment would be required in the fall if the crop yielded above a certain yield. The FSA put the kabosh on the landlords plan, thankfully. Jim

Anonymous-0 · May 26, 2009

I thought that was the gamble of farming. why didn't he have it insured.? Reduce the rent and he has a normal crop, wait till it develops because at the moment it is all guesswork.

RayP(MI) · May 26, 2009

Years ago we had a hail storm on the 4th of July. Corn was reduced from 6" to 8" to little stubs an inch or so tall. Corn came back, and we got about 75% crop.

TripleRange · May 26, 2009

I'd be finding a new renter...cause this one is trying to pull a fast one. That corn will come back. Perhaps he should adjust his farming practices too (no till, strip till, etc), to better handle some wind.

massey333 · May 26, 2009

F B,I will agree with all that you don't owe the renter any refund,however as you said he didn't ask for any.From my point of view,if I was renting a farm and had serious wind or any kind of damage,I would call and ask them if they wanted to come look and see any damage that may have been done.Just trying to remain friendly with them,but by some of the other remarks,that is why I don't rent ground anymore(1995).

Traditional Farmer · May 26, 2009

I rent pasture land when a cow gets killed by Lightning its sure ain't the landowners fault.That's farming.

buickanddeere · May 26, 2009

Wait until harvest.

LA in WI · May 26, 2009

Dig out several plants that are cut off to soil level. Lay them on work bench, slice them lengthwise. Lay flat sides up. Look for a white "arrow" growth coming up from roots.

If tip of arrow is white and below the soil surface your corn will regrow just fine.

Depending on the weather from now to harvest, you could end up with 70 - 90% of usualy yields.

If arrow is white, do NOT replant.
If arrow is brown, the plant is dead.

This is same for corn that was frozen.
LA in WI

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