Farm Leases & Grazing Agreements

A Farm Lease That Holds Up

Cash rent, crop share, flex leases, and grazing agreements — drafted to fit how the operation actually runs across NE and MN.

Talk About Your Lease

No obligation. No hourly billing. Tell us a bit about the arrangement and we will reach out.

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100% Confidential. Flat-fee pricing.

Handshake Leases Work Until They Don’t

Most farm leases in Nebraska and Minnesota are still done on a handshake. The landlord and tenant agree on a per-acre rate, shake hands, and go to work. It works fine — until there’s a disagreement over fertilizer application, conservation compliance, or termination notice.

A written farm lease protects both parties. It establishes the rent structure, defines responsibilities (property taxes, weed spraying, conservation compliance), specifies the term and termination process, and addresses what happens when the landlord dies or sells. This is a critical component of any farm real estate strategy.

We draft farm leases for all common arrangements: cash rent, crop share, flex leases, and grazing agreements. Every lease is customized to the specific ground, the specific relationship, and the specific operation.

compareLease Types

Cash Rent — Fixed per-acre payment. Predictable income.
Crop Share — Landlord & tenant split the crop. Shared risk.
Flex Lease — Base rent plus bonus tied to prices/yields.
Grazing — Per-head or per-acre. Covers stocking rates, fencing.

The September 1 Deadline That Catches Everyone Off Guard

In Nebraska, a farm tenancy that runs from March 1 to March 1 requires six months’ notice to terminate. That means if a landlord wants to change tenants for the next crop year, they must give written notice by September 1 of the current year.

Miss that deadline by one day, and the existing lease automatically renews for another full year. We’ve seen landlords stuck with tenants they wanted to remove — and tenants blindsided by termination notices they didn’t expect — all because nobody was watching the calendar.

Every lease we draft includes clear termination provisions with explicit deadlines and notice requirements. We also offer calendar monitoring for clients who want us to track these dates so nothing gets missed.

Kole with farmer and landowner signing lease at kitchen table

The Midwest Ag Law Process

We don’t do hourly billing, and we don’t hand you a stack of paper and wish you luck. Our process is designed to be transparent, thorough, and completely finished when we’re done.

1

Understand the Relationship

We learn about the ground, the landlord’s goals, the tenant’s operation, and the existing relationship. This shapes every lease provision we draft.

2

Draft the Lease

We draft a customized lease covering rent structure, maintenance responsibilities, conservation obligations, termination provisions, and what happens upon landlord death or sale.

3

Review & Execute

Both parties review the lease. We explain every provision and make any requested adjustments. Once signed, both parties have a clear, enforceable agreement they can rely on.

Farm Lease Services

Written leases that protect both sides.

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Lease Drafting

Custom farm leases for cash rent, crop share, flex, and grazing arrangements. Every term specific to your situation.

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Lease Review

If a tenant or landlord has presented you with a lease, we review it and advise on any terms that should be modified.

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Lease Disputes

When disagreements arise over rent, termination, or property damage, we help resolve the issue — ideally without litigation.

What Our Clients Say
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Sandramere Seed & Supply Co. profile picture
Sandramere Seed & Supply Co.
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Kole helped us develop HR documents and create some customer forms for our business. Kole really helps put legal language in understandable form. We really appreciate his thorough nature and ability to ask the right questions to uncover issues we had not considered. His agricultural knowledge is extremely valuable. Thanks Kole! We really appreciate you!
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James Jensen profile picture
James Jensen
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Working with Kole was easy and convenient. He answered all our questions and helped us get our trust established quickly.
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Brandon Boardman profile picture
Brandon Boardman
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Kole's personal experience and understanding in agriculture makes him a great attorney for all of your farms estate planning. He's very prompt, professional and he really cares about your needs. What a great guy.
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Mary Mollenhauer profile picture
Mary Mollenhauer
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Working with this firm feels less like hiring a lawyer and more like bringing on a strategic partner for your legacy. They truly understand the complexity of multi-generational farming operations and approach every plan with both precision and long-term vision. For families managing significant agricultural assets, this is exactly the kind of counsel you want in your corner.
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Mitch Mender profile picture
Mitch Mender
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Kole is a bright and compassionate attorney. He knows what he is doing!
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Pooja Vasudev profile picture
Pooja Vasudev
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Kole Pederson walks the walk and talks the talk! As a former aerial applicator, he has fully lived the agricultural life so he is qualified to assist farmers, ranchers, and agricultural business owners with their estate planning/probate, business law, and real estate legal needs. Kole is diligent, resilient, and down to earth with a genuine commitment to help clients. In this day and age, when everything has become less tangible and very technological - Kole is the kind of attorney agricultural folks can benefit from having on their side!
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Matt Snoberger profile picture
Matt Snoberger
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Kole was easy to work with and has vast knowledge of agriculture and a lot of common sense. One of the easiest people I’ve ever worked with.
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Flynn Baker profile picture
Flynn Baker
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I have worked with Kole on a legislative and policy committee for a non profit organization. Kole's input was incredibly valuable; especially navigating legal jargon and procedures as well as his attention to detail and timeliness. I am glad to have worked with him and trust his recommendations and actions in legal matters.
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Becky profile picture
Becky
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I was doing an online search for an attorney and ran across Midwest Ag Law. I called and Mr. Pederson actually answered the phone himself, which Never happens these days! Unfortunately, he doesn't do Guardianship cases, but was very kind and went out of his way to give me some referrals!
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Curt Friesen profile picture
Curt Friesen
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Legal work made simple. Very professional firm that delivered everything I needed, when I needed it, and at a reasonable price. Great to work with and will use them again.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a verbal farm lease enforceable?expand_more
In many cases, yes — verbal leases can be enforceable under the Statute of Frauds if they are for one year or less. But proving the terms of a verbal agreement in a dispute is extremely difficult. We always recommend putting it in writing.
What notice period is required to terminate a farm lease in Nebraska?expand_more
Nebraska requires six months’ notice to terminate a farm tenancy that runs from March 1 to March 1. That means notice must be given by September 1 of the current year.
Can you help with grazing leases on CRP ground?expand_more
Yes. CRP ground has specific restrictions on grazing. We draft grazing agreements that comply with FSA requirements and protect both the landowner’s CRP contract and the grazier’s access rights.

Need a Farm Lease Put in Writing?

Protect yourself and your tenant with a proper written agreement. Schedule a free consultation. Flat-fee pricing.