Iowa Lease to Beginning Farmers Program

The Lease to Beginning Farmers Program provides opportunities for beginning farmers to lease agricultural land that the DNR holds and manages for Wildlife Habitat.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a portion of the public lands it stewards for Iowa citizens in agricultural production as a cost effective and efficient way to achieve wildlife habitat goals and objectives. These lands are planned and managed in cooperation with the USDA-NRCS through an approved Soil and Water Conservation Plan. The DNR manages 356,000 acres of land as public wildlife areas. About 10 percent of these lands are in some form of crop rotation.

The Beginning Farmer Program was created in 2013 through the passage of H.F. 457 Agricultural Land Leases for beginning farmers. It allows local farmers and ranchers to farm or ranch wildlife management areas managed by the DNR in accordance with Wildlife Management Area Management Plans.

• To lease the DNR land through this program a Beginning Farmer must be certified as eligible by the Iowa Agricultural Development Division (IADD) of the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA)

• Applicants must be a resident of Iowa and 18 years of age.

• Have a net worth of no more than $901,000 (2026).

• Have a sufficient education, training or experience for the anticipated farm operations.

• Have access to adequate working capital, equipment and other items that are necessary to operate the farm.

• Be the operator of the farm they are wanting to lease.

• Under Iowa Code section 16.59, an individual applicant’s aggregate net worth includes the beginning farmer, the beginning farmer’s spouse, and the beginning farmer’s minor children.

• IADD certification applies only to the individual(s) or entity specifically identified on this eligibility certification.

Wildlife habitat management goals for these agricultural lands differ by area, but generally include:

• the provision of food, winter cover, and nesting cover

• control of natural succession and annual weeds

• provide lure crops to help reduce wildlife depredation on adjacent private lands

• prepare soil for permanent seedings

• attract wildlife to public hunting areas for improved hunting opportunity.

Each lease on the annual list sets its own lease term, acreage, annual rent and payment schedule. From the 2027 lease list:

• Terms of the Habitat Lease Agreement will be strictly enforced; violations may be cause for termination.

• The operator may be billed for area expenses not to exceed the annual rent.

Certification Forms will be made available in September with the deadline for submission to Iowa Finance Authority remaining December 1. Available Leases will be posted no later than November 1.

Process for beginning farmers once they have identified a lease they would like to apply for.

• Apply for Beginning Farmer status with Iowa Finance Authority by December 1.

• Beginning Farmer Application should be submitted to Iowa Finance Authority – Not the DNR

• Contact listed DNR contact by December 1st to confirm interest. Required to be considered for lease

• Iowa Finance Authority will notify DNR if you are approved.

• Priority will be given to first time beginning farmers if more than one applies for a specific lease.

• If more than one beginning farmer applies for the same lease, lots will be publicly drawn to determine who gets the lease.

• If no beginning farmers apply for a lease, it will be offered to the general public.

Iowa Finance Authority will notify applicants and DNR once the application has been approved or denied by December 31, 2026.

Include the following with your certification request or it will be returned as incomplete:

• IADD Certification Form

• Financial Statement of Beginning Farmer, spouse, and minor children - within approx. 30 days

• Financial Statement of Business if applicable - within approx. 30 days

• Background Form or Letter from Beginning Farmer

Leases occasionally come available throughout the year. If you would like to be notified when leases come available, apply for Beginning Farmer status with the Iowa Finance Authority and let the local DNR contact know you would like to be contacted.

Prospective tenants should check back every year for new available leases. Beginning Farmers approval is only valid for the leases offered this year. In subsequent lease offerings, prospective beginning farmers will have to apply to Iowa Finance Authority to be certified a beginning farmer.

2027 Beginning Farmer Leases

DNR Lease to Beginning Farmer Program (Iowa Finance Authority)