Land

Land [ Home ]

The land we farm is our most valuable resource. We are fortunate to have a number of landowners that have also entrusted us with their land. Several are relatives, including Lee's parents, siblings, an aunt, and some second cousins. Others have become an extended family to us over the years.

Owned

In the 1980's, following the custom wheat harvest trail was a major portion of our farm operation. However, in 1988 we acquired more land to farm in our immediate area and in 1992 we "retired" from the harvest trail. We operate now as a family owned corporation with 1 full time employee and other part time seasonal help.

Rented

Our landowners live from coast to coast (Maine to California; Wisconsin to Texas) and in Lyons, KS, Hutchinson, KS and many places in between.

	Most of the cropping is done on share crop arrangements whereby we, as tenants, supply the machinery, labor, management, etc. and the landowners provide the land. We share some of the variable inputs (such as fertilizer) and share the harvested crops on a percentage basis. The most common crop sharing arrangement in our area is 1/3 to landowner and 2/3 to tenant.
	Some of our land is cash rented from landowners for a fixed amount of money each year. All of our grassland is rented on this basis.
	We try to communicate with landowners several times per year. This web site is our newest venture into communication opportunities. We usually exchange Christmas greetings to keep up with each other's families. We correspond when cropping plans are made, harvest reports are completed or other events seem important enough to share. Yield maps created while harvesting are available to interested parties by contacting us. We hope many of our landowners will visit this site to see "what's new on the farm." (Suggestions are welcome!)