The continuing changes in Iowa agriculture have added a new dynamic in farm management decision-making. 
    To help Iowa landowners and renters, Iowa State University Extension is offering two educational opportunities for area producers on farmland leasing this summer. The deadline for terminating or changing a lease for the 2009 crop year is Sept. 1, 2008.
    ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist Robert Tigner is offering a farmland leasing workshop at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12. The program will be presented at the Pinicon restaurant at 2205 S. Linn Ave., New Hampton, with a “Dutch-treat” buffet available beginning at 6 p.m. Coffee will be available during the workshop.
    The workshop is designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing agreements.
    The cost of the workshop is $25. Each workshop attendee will receive copy of the Farm Leasing workbook. Deadline for registration is 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at at the Chickasaw County Extension office. Walk-ins will be accepted at a cost of $35.
    Topics covered include:
    * Cash rental rate survey and land values survey.
    * Comparison of different types of leases.
    * Lease termination.
    * Impacts of yields and prices.
    * Calculating a fair cash rent.
    * Use of spreadsheets to compare leases.
    * Available Internet resources.
    Tigner holds a masters in agricultural industries from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a bachelor of science in dairy science from Iowa State University. His areas of expertise include dairy expansion planning, dairy financial analysis, dairy marketing, farm decision tools and farm personnel management.  His experience includes serving six years in the U.S. Navy; working as a dairy cooperative field representative for Swiss Valley Farms; and four years working as a dairy and livestock agent for the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Clark County.
    The ISU Extension farm management team has created an online resource for those who prefer to get the information from the Internet. The information can be found online at  www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/
hottopicsleasing.html. The online information is intended to compliment the workshop.
    For more information on the multi-county Farmland Leasing Workshop, contact the Chickasaw County Extension office at 104 E. Main St., New Hampton, or information can be accessed on the Web site at  www.extension.iastate.edu/chickasaw.