By Jamie Martin
Across the Mid-South, cash leases have grown more popular than crop share agreements. Many landowners prefer cash leases because they are simple and require less management. Non-farm and absentee landowners especially value the ease of fixed payments. At the same time, tenants appreciate the simplicity when bidding for additional farmland, making cash agreements a practical choice.
Cash rents for irrigated cropland depend on several important factors. Land productivity, quality of soil, and improvements such as precision leveling strongly influence rental rates. Fields that allow smooth water flow and better drainage support higher yields and therefore command higher rent. Access to reliable groundwater for irrigation is another major advantage. Regions capable of producing several crops, including rice, cotton, corn, and soybeans, also support stronger rental markets. Rising commodity prices and general inflation have added pressure to rental rates across the region.
Rents vary significantly between subregions. In 2025, Southeast Missouri recorded some of the highest average irrigated rents at around $228 per acre. East Central Arkansas remained on the lower end at about $146 per acre, reflecting a greater share of unimproved land. Rolling terrain and uneven slopes limit the use of precision leveling, which reduces productivity and lowers rental values in some areas.
From 2019 to 2025, nominal rents rose across all seven Mid-South subregions. Increases ranged from nine percent to twenty-seven percent depending on local conditions. Global market disruptions, higher input prices, and broad inflation contributed to these rising figures.
When adjusted to 2025 dollars, however, real rents have remained stable across the region. This shows that inflation explains most of the growth in nominal rent. Overall, irrigated cropland rent trends in the Mid-South highlight the importance of land improvements, irrigation access, and shifting economic conditions.
Photo Credit: istock-alenamozhjer
Categories: National