Free South Dakota farm lease agreement templates, ready to sign
SDSU Extension cash, crop-share, flex and pasture lease forms for South Dakota, with the Sept 1 notice rule.
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South Dakota Lease Bundle
Every template in one download: SDSU cash, crop-share, flex and four pasture leases, a custom farming contract, plus livestock, building and machinery leases.
Unlock bundleDownload bundleSD Crop-Share Lease
SDSU Extension crop-share farm lease for sharing crops and inputs.
DownloadEnding or changing a lease? South Dakota: oral farm leases renew unless written notice is given by Sept 1. The lease then ends March 1. See how to give notice →
How South Dakota farm leases work
When a South Dakota lease can end, how much notice it takes and what to put in writing.
How to end a South Dakota farm lease
Under SDCL § 43-32-22.1, an oral lease where the tenant occupies and farms at least 40 acres of agricultural land, including native or tame grassland, continues for the next crop year unless written notice is given by Sept 1.
| Situation | Notice rule |
|---|---|
| Oral lease, 40+ acres | Written notice by Sept 1; ends the following March 1 |
| Tenant in default | No automatic continuation |
| Written lease with an end date | Follow the lease |
SDSU Extension notes that oral leases renew automatically without Sept 1 written notice, leases over one year must be in writing, and agricultural leases are capped at 20 years. Compare every state in Oaken's farm lease termination guide.
Put the new terms in writing
Start the next lease from a South Dakota template with clear end dates and notice terms.
Get the South Dakota templatesPick the right South Dakota lease type
Setting the rent? The 2026 median non-irrigated cropland rent across 63 of 66 published South Dakota counties is $112 per acre. Compare yours on the South Dakota cash rent by county map or read the 2026 rent negotiation guide.
Oral vs. written leases in South Dakota
South Dakota's Sept 1 rule applies to oral leases, which renew each year without notice. SDSU Extension notes that leases longer than one year must be in writing.
Our advice: a lease that has rolled over for years on a handshake leaves no record of the rent, input splits or notice terms. Write it down, even for a one-year deal. Get the templates →
What to put in writing
- Names, legal description and FSA acres
- Start date, end date and how renewal works
- Rent, due dates and any flex formula
- Notice deadline and how notice is delivered
- Carry-over fertilizer and lime reimbursement
- Conservation practices, tile and drainage
- Grazing season, AUMs and stocking rate
- Flex rent formula or custom farming terms (in the bundle)
- Hunting, wind and solar rights
Free lease rate calculators
Run the numbers before you fill in your South Dakota lease. County data built in.
A template covers one lease. Oaken runs all of them.
Once the leases are signed, the real work starts: rent due dates, flex bonuses, notice deadlines and landowner statements. Oaken tracks every one across every farm and all 66 South Dakota counties.
A quick call with our team. No obligation.
| Binder & spreadsheet | With Oaken |
|---|---|
| Deadlines tracked by memory | Automated lease and payment tracking |
| Flex and crop-share formulas that break | Variable rent calculated and reconciled |
| Landowners call for updates | Landowner portal |
| One person holds the file | Multi-user access, office or field |
| Risky hand-off to new staff | White-glove onboarding |
South Dakota farm lease questions
What is the deadline to terminate a farm lease in South Dakota?
For an oral lease where the tenant farms at least 40 acres, SDCL § 43-32-22.1 requires written notice by September 1. The lease then ends the following March 1. Without timely notice, the lease continues for another crop year on the same terms.
Does the South Dakota Sept 1 rule apply to written leases?
The statute covers oral leases. A written lease follows its own terms. SDSU Extension also notes that leases longer than one year must be in writing.
How long can a South Dakota agricultural lease last?
SDSU Extension notes that South Dakota caps agricultural leases at 20 years.
What is the average farmland cash rent in South Dakota in 2026?
Across the 63 of 66 South Dakota counties with published 2026 USDA NASS cash rent data, the median county rent for non-irrigated cropland is $112 per acre. Oaken's South Dakota cash rent map shows every published county, its rank and its change from 2025.
How does Oaken help manage South Dakota farmland leases?
Oaken keeps every South Dakota lease, landowner and payment in one place. It tracks rent due dates and each lease's notice deadline, calculates flex and crop-share payments, and gives landowners a portal for statements, so nothing depends on a binder or one person's memory.