TWRA Leasing Cordell Hull Farming Land

If you are looking to start a new farm, TWRA’s sharecrop program has over 800 acres for lease starting Tuesday.

Cordell Hull Wildlife Manager Johnny Poston said the farmland stretches from the Clay Jackson County line to the Cordell Hull Dam.

“It would be rented for grain production of corn, soybeans and wheat,” Poston said. “We have 10 contracts, and they will range in size from 21 acres to 134 acres.”

Poston said each contract lasts five years with cash rent payments starting in 2021. Poston said other requirements include working farming equipment and in some cases liability insurance.

“There is a long list of requirements,” Poston said. “They would have to have adequate equipment to farm it. Some contracts will require a security of payment or maybe liability insurance in some cases. Anytime you enter a contract with the state, there is a lengthy process with it. I have put together in the invitation to bid pamphlet.”

Poston said all contracts should be awarded by the spring to give farmers adequate time. If interested, call (615)-342-9307 for an invitation to bid. Poston said the funds go towards the operations of the agency.

“The share crop program has been utilized by TWRA for decades now,” Poston said. “As habitat improvement costs increase, this programs provides services and revenue to offset the cost of the agency, and ultimately, to the hunter who is buying the hunter license.”

More contracts are set to become available this spring as the last round of leases expire.