The work of the Initiative includes analysis of existing data and information on land ownership patterns, farm lease agreements, and local and state policies that impact agricultural sustainability and stewardship in order to provide learning opportunities for farmers, landowners, attorneys, educators, and public officials. This site is designed to promote access to the information collected and produced by the Initiative.
The work of the initiative and, therefore, the information included in this site focuses primarily on the relationship between sustainable agriculture and land tenure in the United States, with a focus on the tenancy landscape and correlating laws, publications, and organizations in the State of Iowa. Much of the information is relevant to other states and select laws and information relating to other states are also examined.
While this initiative focuses on sustainable agricultural land tenure in the U.S., it should be recognized the issue of land tenure and sustainability is of international concern. Resources relating to the regional and international aspects of land tenure and sustainability can be found at the Nelson Institute’s Land Tenure Center.