The Secret of Successful Tenant-Landowner Communication

As a tenant farmer, your relationship with your landowner can make or break your business. That’s why clear, open communication between both parties is critical. 

Without a clear understanding of your landowner's expectations and needs, you can easily make costly mistakes that can set back your whole operation:

• Missed payments

• Misreporting (or not reporting) to USDA

• Forgetting key maintenance obligations

• Insufficient consent before implementing major changes

So if you’re going to have a successful operation, you need to make sure you and your landowner maintain clear, open lines of communication. 

Let’s discuss some tips to help you build a solid foundation for a trustworthy, mutually beneficial farming relationship. 

The secret of success: clear expectations in advance

If there’s one thing you walk away from this article with, it should be this: the secret to effective communication is establishing clear expectations between both parties in advance. 

Once the season is underway, you’re past the point of problem-solving. Things are already moving, and there’s no time to stop and troubleshoot. You just have to make a decision. 

That’s why it’s important to set expectations before the season starts. Make sure everyone’s on the same page, and lay out a plan to make sure there are no misunderstandings. This will go a long way to establishing trust and aiding communication later on. 

And most importantly: you need to put all of this into writing. If it’s not on paper, it doesn’t exist. 

Putting expectations on paper helps to: 

• Create a single source of truth that both parties can refer to throughout the partnership. This ensures that there is no ambiguity or confusion about what was agreed upon.

• Proactively plan how to avoid or address issues before they occur. This can save time, money, and headaches in the long run.

• Prevent misunderstandings or disagreements from escalating into bigger problems.

• Provide both parties with legal protection in case of any disputes, as a well-drafted written agreement can help protect both parties from any misunderstandings or breaches of contract.

• Reflect a high degree of professionalism and dedication to the partnership. It communicates a strong sense of commitment from both parties to the partnership's success, and a willingness to devote time and resources to ensure that it is fruitful.

That being said, tenants and landowners alike still need to be sure to communicate regularly. Your partnership should never be a “set it and forget it” agreement. 

Tips for clear, open communication with your landowner

Once you’ve drafted an agreement and the season is underway, it’s important to be proactive, not reactive, when communicating issues with your landowner. You don’t want them to find out about a problem second-hand—that’ll kill any trust you have with them.

Here are some steps you can take to keep those communication lines open. 

Outline expectations

We already mentioned the importance of clear expectations in advance. It’s important that you hold up your end of the bargain, and ideally the landowner will do the same. 

If things change—as often happens in agriculture—make sure you and the landowner agree on any changes or adjustments to your previous agreements. And be sure to get it in writing!

Use clear language

The landowner may have a farming background, or they may not. Regardless, it’s a good idea to communicate as clearly as possible, avoiding technical jargon they don’t understand. 

Be specific

Whether it’s a problem, action step, or simple status update, it’s important to be as specific and concrete in your language as possible. This goes back to being clear: you don’t want to leave things open to misinterpretation.

Why it’s important to stay in your lane

Striking a balance between listening to your landowner's input and leaning on your own expertise can be challenging. 

As the farmer, you bring a unique set of skills and experience to the table. However, the landowner has a vested interest in the property, and they may have insights into its history and potential future projects that could impact your farming practices. 

When there is a risk disparity between the tenant farmer and the landowner, the party with the greater risk will generally be more invested in active involvement. This is why it's crucial to clearly state the terms of the agreement in writing to protect each party's interests. By doing so, both the tenant farmer and landowner can have a clear understanding of the agreement and their respective roles and responsibilities.

Ultimately, you need to remember you both share a common goal: to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the land. By working together and finding a balance between the farmer's expertise and the landowner's insights, you can create a successful and mutually beneficial partnership. 

Don’t go it alone: solve problems as a team

Let's face it: farming comes with its fair share of challenges, many of which are unavoidable. Whether storms, droughts, or market fluctuations, there will always be factors outside of our control that can impact the success of your operation. 

Farming necessarily involves some degree of problem solving. However, you’re not on your own. Your and your landowner are on the same team, and both want the operation to succeed. If you can solve problems together, you’ll both benefit as a result. 

Be proactive

Don't wait for problems to arise before addressing them. If you notice any issues with the land or operation, don’t hesitate to communicate them as soon as possible. Regardless of the type of issue you’re facing, the earlier you communicate, the more time you and your farmer have to work the problem.

Be transparent

Communicate openly and honestly about any issues or concerns. Honesty and transparency can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts down the road. If you withhold information about your farming practices, you could negatively impact the land—not to mention lose trust with the landowner.

Offer solutions

Don't just identify the problem, also suggest potential solutions. On the other hand, be open to feedback from the landowner. They have a perspective that you don’t, and may be able to find a better solution for the good of the whole operation.

Final thoughts on tenant-landowner communication

Clear communication is essential to maintain a productive and mutually beneficial partnership between farmers and landowners. This can help you prevent misunderstandings, build trust, and lay the foundation for a true long-term partnership. 

By outlining expectations and responsibilities upfront, finding a balance between the landowner's input and your own expertise, addressing issues early on, and maintaining a positive relationship, you can build trust and rapport with your landowner and ensure a successful farming operation.

As a tenant, it's important to find the right landowner with whom you can build a productive and positive relationship. If you're looking for land to farm, check out the Common Ground marketplace to find listings in your area. With a wide range of land types and locations, you're sure to find the right match for your farming needs.

Search for listings on the CommonGround marketplace here.