By Blake Jackson
As the calendar year winds down, many landowners and tenants are beginning to evaluate their farm lease arrangements for the 2026 growing season. For those operating under verbal agreements, University of Missouri Extension is urging both parties to review an updated resource titled Verbal Farm Rental Agreements Under Missouri Law, which is available at no cost.
Verbal or oral farm leases are legally valid in Missouri, according to MU Extension field specialist Mary Sobba. Unlike some neighboring states that impose firm deadlines for ending oral leases, Missouri law allows these agreements to start on any date. That flexibility, however, can also lead to uncertainty when one party wants to end the arrangement. In Iowa, for instance, landowners must notify tenants by Sept. 1 to terminate a lease effective March 1 of the following year.
The most common verbal lease in Missouri is known as a year-to-year periodic tenancy. Under this structure, the agreement automatically continues each year unless either the landowner or tenant gives written notice of termination at least 60 days before the anniversary of the original agreement.
Verbal farm leases have a long history in the state and are often formed through simple conversations and a handshake. “Verbal leases can work well, but if misunderstandings or disagreements arise, they become challenging,” Sobba said.
“It can be difficult to determine which party is correct if each party recalls the lease terms differently. Our guide discusses common challenges related to lease duration, termination, invalid verbal agreements, subleases and death of the landlord or tenant.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-alexeyrumyantsev
Categories: Missouri, General