The University of Illinois moving forward with revisions to its farmland management policy. The school has acquired around 10,000 acres of farmland through various gifts over the years, but moved to an open bid format for cash leases back in 2004. U-of-I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean Kimberlee Kidwell wanted to see that changed—using a “best candidate” approach instead.
Illinois Farm Bureau president Rich Guebert Jr expressed support for the revisions earlier this summer.
Kidwell says the policy change also means the most qualified applicants for U-of-I farmland will be offered operating contracts at a predetermined rate based on local market conditions.
