Concern over conacre system popularity

It’s a busy time of year for leasing and conacre arrangements. Our use of long-term leases in this country remains quite low.

Recent estimates suggest about 640,000 hectares is rented by way of conacre. Leasing takes a poor second place to conacre, with little more than 100,000 hectares in long-term leases.

Of course, some cropping is particularly suited to conacre-type arrangements — such as potatoes, beet and vegetables which are usually grown in rotation. However, the majority of land rented under conacre arrangements is plain tillage land or grass land.