Keep these questions in mind before putting a wind turbine on your farm

Signing a contract to put wind turbines on your property can bring in some significant money. However, there are things to keep in mind as a landowner before picking up that pen.

“That lease that you are agreeing to with that wind tower company is really going to set the structure for the terms of that contract,: the length of time, the payment schedule, if there’s damages, and the access points. There are a lot of things that need to be negotiated. Educating yourself, doing your due diligence as a landowner to familiarize yourself. Keeping your farm operator in the loop as well is going to be very important as you start thinking about entering into these contracts. We’ve certainly seen a flurry of them here in the Midwest. It’s very important to understand how that wind tower and that lease is going to affect your land value and your land asset for years to come,” said Spencer Smith.

Smith says he has seen contracts pay out anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 per megawatt per tower, with a typical lease running upwards of 30 years.

Related Stories
Co-Bank Lead Dairy Economist, Corey Geiger, joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report for a further look at the drop in replacement heifers and the trend’s longterm impact on dairy producers and cattle prices.
The agriculture workforce’s struggles with labor issues in recent years have opened the door to more automation and integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
Raising crops requires hard work and dedication, and the same can be said for raising a child. In Virginia, a group of moms is leading the way in combining nurturing with farming.
The amendments affect BLM lands in several Western states. Comments on the Sage grouse proposals can be made to the BLM National NEPA Register until Oct. 3.
Mike Formica with the National Pork Producers Council joined us on Market Day Report with his reaction to the EPA’s rollback of a Biden-era wastewater discharge mitigation plan.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joins us to provide an updated analysis of projected ARC and PLC payments and potential delays due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Approximately 42,000 birds were affected in the outbreak, officials said.
Beef demand could be influencing other economic sectors, as consumers adjust spending habits to prioritize higher-priced beef products.
AFBF Economist Bearnt Nelson joins us with insights into current turkey flock sizes, HPAI concerns, and production impacts on holiday demand.
Dr. Beetham outlined the background of the EU’s decision to modernize seed regulations and where the process stands today, and its impact on global agriculture and food security.
“It, all of a sudden, says that tracking and fighting hunger is not a priority, apparently, at the federal level.”