Cash rent by state and county

Five-year national trend

The national non-irrigated cropland cash-rent figure is USD 146/ac in 2026, down USD 1/ac from 2025. County pages below show how that broad line breaks apart by state and county.

How cash rent is set in practice

Scout starts with the NASS county cash-rent average when NASS reports that county. If a county row is unavailable, Scout uses the NASS state average and labels the number state-level, because a state average should never wear a county label.

For a parcel-level read, AgriTerra then applies its soil-quality adjustment around that NASS average using the parcel's USDA SSURGO productivity index. A PI of 70 or higher sets a stronger band around the benchmark, roughly average to 20 percent above; PI 40 to 69 centers the band near the benchmark; PI below 40 shifts the band below the benchmark. That adjustment is AgriTerra's modeling approach, not a separate NASS-published parcel rent.

Cash rent, crop share, and flex leases

Cash rent gives the owner a fixed payment and leaves production risk with the tenant. Crop share splits crop revenue and sometimes expenses between owner and operator. A flex lease starts with a base rent, then adjusts with yield, price, or gross revenue formulas.

If you manage more than one lease, use the farm lease manager to track payment history and compare each lease against its county benchmark.

Cash rent FAQ

What is the average cash rent per acre?

The latest national NASS cash-rent figure in this table is USD 146/ac for non-irrigated cropland in 2026. State figures vary widely, so use the state table and county pages as benchmarks, not as a quote for one parcel.

How is cash rent determined?

Cash rent is usually negotiated from county benchmarks, soil productivity, drainage, field shape, local competition, tenant improvements, payment timing, and lease risk. AgriTerra starts with the NASS county average when one exists, falls back to the NASS state average when it does not, and labels that fallback as state-level.

When are cash rents negotiated?

Many leases are negotiated or renewed after harvest and before the next crop year, commonly from late fall into winter. Local custom matters, and multi-year leases may set rent earlier or include annual adjustment language.