Full ownership is more common among smaller farms

Renting farmland is a way to expand by controlling additional land without the debt and commitment of capital associate with ownership. Between 57 and 66 percent of farmers with sales greater than $100,000 are part owners who own part of the land they operate and rent the rest. In addition, another 12 to 14 percent of farmers with sales at that level are tenants renting all the land they operate. In contrast, a large majority-82 percent-of farmers with sales less than $10,000 are full owners. This chart may be found in the March 2011 issue of Amber Waves magazine.