FARMLAND FOR RENT: St. Olaf College seeks competitive bids and proposals for the rental of portions of its agricultural land in Dakota and Rice Counties. The College desires to rent the land to one or more farmers who will utilize Low-Till/No-Till, or other sustainable agricultural techniques, as well as supervise the installation of > grass waterways and maintain them. Approximately 360 crop acres that are spread over several parcels will be leased for a three-year term with possible renewal. Approximately 55 additional crop acres will be leased on a one-year term with possible renewal. Detailed requirements for the written bid proposal and other terms and conditions can be found at ttp://www.stolaf.edu/offices/treasurer/treaoffice.html or by contacting: Vice President & Treasurer, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave., Northfield, MN 55057. Complete and written proposals/bids must be received by November 14, 2003.
Additional Information and Requirements
1. The approximately 360 crop acres available for three-year lease with possible renewal could be rented in its entirety or it could be partitioned into the following size plots.
Dakota County: 28 acres, 29.5 acres, 235 acres.
Rice County: 16.2 acres, 37 acres, 9.4 acres, 6 acres.
Some other combinations are also possible and the College will consider variations suggested by the bidders.
2. The approximately 55 crop acres in Dakota County that will be leased on a year-by-year basis should be treated as a single parcel.
3. To the extent that the creation of grass waterways reduces the actual crop acres the lease and annual rent will be adjusted.
4. Proposals must include a plan indicating the following:
a. Description of the Low-Till/No-Till or other sustainable agricultural technique to be utilized.
b. expected frequency and timing of cultivation.
c. crop rotations,
d. equipment that would be used,
e. expected frequency and timing of chemicals/fertilizers application and what types would be applied.
5. Proposals must include a brief history of the farmer’s experience with sustainable techniques and the total acres the farmer currently operates.
6. The minimum and maximum number of acres the farmer seeks to rent and the rent offered in dollars per acre. The proposals for three-year leases should include a proposed inflation adjustment to the annual rent.
7. The leases will run from January 1 to December 31.
8. The College will retain the right to cancel the three-year lease with twelve months notice. The proposal should identify what consideration the farmer expects if the College cancels the lease.
9. The College reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals/bids and to negotiate these or additional terms and conditions.
