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The Iowa Legislature created the DNR Lease to Beginning Farmer Program as a way to provide leasing opportunities to beginning farmers. This program is offered and administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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 at the time of application
Have a net worth of no more than $833,000
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
The DNR will be announcing the application period later this year, it will open sometime in late summer/early fall. We encourage you to watch for the announcement at which time the certification from will be available.
