Agricultural Lease Program

An important part of the Corps Resource Management Program at Smithville Lake is leasing of project lands, suitable for agriculture, to area farmers. The leasing program is utilized to accomplish a variety of resource management objectives through the implementation of special Land Use Conditions. The lease contract and conditions that must be meet by each lessee help protect and maintain project natural resources. The leasing program also provides long term resource management protection for project lands.

How to Bid on Corps Agricultural Leases

The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers agricultural leases are based on a five year rotation period. The project office advertises units as they come up for renewal. Bid packets outlining the land use conditions, location, acreage’s and other requirements can be picked up at the Smithville Lake Project Office or mailed to you if you are on the project mailing list. To get on the mailing list for Smithville Lake, please contact the project office at 816-532-0174 or e-mail your name and address to Smithville@usace.army.mil. Our staff will forward all information to the Real Estate Office.

A variety of management techniques are incorporated into the lease contract and land use regulations. The management techniques provide for the following needs: soil and water conservation, vegetation management and protection, and wildlife food and cover. Some required land use techniques are: terracing of crop fields, strip cropping, crop rotation plans, leaving of crop stubble, soil tests, liming and fertilization, noxious weed control and secession control. Other practices such as leaving grass and weed strips for boundary delineation and habitat, leaving 5% of row crops standing for wildlife food and cover can be very beneficial to the leasing program and public lands. Pond building or renovation is also a requirement that can control erosion and create habitat protection.

Proper administration of agricultural leasing contracts requires close coordination between District Office elements and field office personnel. Real Estate appraisers must make accurate appraisals when there are several land use requirements in the lease. This will help ensure that the lessee can economically afford to bid on the lease item. Maximum utilization is made of the land use requirements in the agricultural lease program, so that the lessee, the Corps and public lands each derive benefit.