Pasture Considerations When Leasing Ground
Recently, I have had several producers ask what they should consider when making a pasture lease agreement. When leasing pastureland, here are some crucial factors to think about prior to signing a leasing agreement.
- Animal Care and Natural Disasters — Clarify who is responsible for animals, especially during emergencies like fires, hail or drought. The lease should outline disaster response plans to avoid confusion and ensure quick action.
- Fencing — Define responsibilities for fence maintenance, including who covers material costs, labor, and any spending limits. Landowners typically provide fences in good condition at the lease's start.
- Water Supply — Determine who manages water supply and what happens if the well runs dry, particularly during drought conditions.
Additional Considerations
Address topics such as:
• Eastern red cedar control
• Noxious weed management
• Fertilizer use
• Grazing practices
• Catch pen and corral upkeep
• Seeding or reseeding
• Erosion control
Clearly defining responsibilities upfront helps prevent disputes. Generally, tenants provide labor while landlords supply materials. For additional information about this topic, visit the Center for Agricultural Profitability.
Alfalfa Insects in 2025
As we enter the final weeks of winter and look towards the 2025 growing season, this is a great time to review your insect scouting program to ensure accurate and timely management of insect pests in your alfalfa.
The most significant alfalfa insect pests to be on the lookout for in 2025 are army cutworm and alfalfa weevil. In 2024, there were several reports of these insects causing damage to fields from across the state.
The army cutworm, also known as the miller moth in the adult form, is a caterpillar with a wide host range that includes alfalfa. Because these caterpillars feed at night, feeding damage or other signs of an infestation are usually noticed first. Feeding damage from this insect consists of semi-circular areas eaten from leaf edges or circular holes in leaves. A delay in green-up or higher than average bird activity can also be signs of infestation. Scouting for this insect should begin in early April.
Alfalfa weevil was responsible for significant damage to some fields in 2024, particularly in central and eastern Nebraska. Producers, including those in the west, should begin scouting for this insect in early April or when spring growth begins. Feeding damage appears as pinholes in the terminal leaves, with leaves becoming skeletonized as feeding severity increases. Severely damaged fields may have a frosted appearance.
With some planning and a scouting program in place, alfalfa insect pest populations can be successfully managed and maintained below thresholds in 2025.
