could get a long term lease. Owners frequently indicated willingness to give 

 a long term lease if the farmer made the improvements. Other owners would 

 not give long term leases because of their uncertain plans. 



11. Owners often have little knowledge of agriculture, of how their 

 land might be used, or of what would be fair rental terms. Lease terms are 

 not well established. Potential suppliers and potential users were not well 

 known and were often reluctant to approach the other. 



12. Over half of the dairy farmers in two towns were using other 

 peoples' land in some manner. Some farmers were using several pieces of 

 "rented" land and some were using pieces several miles away. However, much 

 of this use is very light, leases are uncommon, most land improvements (other 

 than on farms rented as complete units) are made by the renter and these 

 are less than they would be if the renter's investments were more secure. An 

 imperfectly established rental market may help limit the amount of renting. 



13. Making suitable land now idle (or that may become idle) avail- 

 able to farmers should assist in maintaining a supply of farm products in 

 New England at a lower cost than may otherwise be the case. 



14. Many individual farmers, especially those on small farms and 

 young men short of the capital to start farming, have opportunities to gain 

 through the use of some idle land. 



15. Many individual owners of idle farm property have opportunities 

 to obtain current income, reduce ownership costs, or improve the sale value 

 of their property by making it available for suitable farm use. 



Recommendations 



1. Individual farmers, particularly established operators of small 

 farms and those seeking to get a start with limited capital or seeking to 

 help sons get started, should study the possibilities in the active, moderately 

 intensive use of rented land. 



2. Individual owners of idle or semi-idle land should study the possi- 

 bilities for increasing current income, decreasing current expenses, or main- 

 taining the value of their investments through having their farm land more 

 actively used. 



3. Idle and semi-idle places need to be listed, their farm resources in 

 land, building, etc., indicated, the owners' willingness to sell or rent deter- 

 mined, and the list made available to interested farmers. The information 

 might be compiled in each town by the selectmen and made available through 

 the County Agent's office. A similar list of interested farmers might be made 

 available to interested nonfarmer owners. 



4. Agricultural agencies, especially the Agricultural Extension Service, 

 should publicize the opportunities in renting, the essentials of good renting, 

 and aid in working out agreements in individual situations. Nonfarmer 

 owners and would-be renters should feel free to seek the aid of these agencies, 

 usually beginning at the office of the County Agricultural Agent. 



5. Interested local agencies, such as town planning groups, might 

 participate in listing idle land suitable for agriculture, interesting owners 

 in making it available to farmers, informing farmers of its availability, and, 

 possibly with the aid of agricultural specialists, working out suitable rental 

 or sale agreements. 



