How Custom Farming Saves Time and Money for Minnesota Landowners

Owning farmland doesn’t always mean you want—or are able—to farm it yourself. Whether due to distance, age, equipment costs, or time constraints, many Minnesota landowners are seeking a better solution to keep their land productive without taking on the full responsibility of farming.



The answer? Custom farming.

At Bunne Farms, we’ve provided custom farming services to landowners across Southeast Minnesota for decades. In this blog, we’ll break down exactly how custom farming works, who it’s for, and how it can save both time and money while preserving your land's long-term value.

What Is Custom Farming?

Custom farming is a service agreement where a landowner hires a third party—like Bunne Farms—to perform all or some of the farming operations on their land. This includes:

• Planting
  
• Fertilizing
  
• Spraying
  
• Harvesting
  
• Field preparation
  
• Yield reporting
  
  

You retain full ownership of the land and the crop, while we bring in the labor, equipment, and expertise to manage the production.

Who Uses Custom Farming Services?

Custom farming is ideal for:

• Retired farmers who no longer operate equipment
  
• Absentee landowners or out-of-state investors
  
• Busy professionals who inherited land
  
• Real estate buyers looking to improve farmland without farming themselves
• Landowners wanting more control than a lease agreement allows
  

1. Custom Farming Saves You the Cost of Equipment

Modern farming equipment is expensive to buy, store, and maintain. Even used equipment can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars for combines, planters, or sprayers.



With custom farming:

• You don’t need to purchase any equipment
  
• You avoid annual maintenance, insurance, and fuel costs
  
• You skip hiring labor or operators
  
  

At Bunne Farms, we bring our own fleet of well-maintained, up-to-date machinery to every job—ensuring efficient, high-quality work without the overhead for you.

2. Custom Farming Saves Time and Labor

Farming takes significant time, especially during peak seasons. Even if you have experience, it can be physically demanding and logistically complex.

By working with a custom farmer, you save time on:

• Monitoring planting windows
  
• Scheduling inputs and spraying
  
• Equipment breakdowns and field delays
  
• Managing labor or seasonal help
  
  

Instead, you receive updates and reports, while we handle the operations. Many of our clients only need to visit the field a few times per season—yet still reap the benefits of a full harvest.

3. You Keep More Control Compared to Leasing

One of the main reasons landowners prefer custom farming over leasing is control. When you lease your land under a cash rent or crop share agreement:

• You may not know exactly how the land is being managed
• The renter chooses crops, inputs, and timing
• You have little say in conservation practices

With custom farming, you still make the decisions, but we execute the work. It’s a great fit for landowners who care about:

• Soil health and conservation
• Crop selection and rotation
• Fertilizer and chemical usage
• Long-term land value

We collaborate with you to build a custom plan that aligns with your goals.

4. Maximize Profitability Without Full-Time Involvement

Custom farming allows landowners to capture more of the upside compared to a lease. You receive:

• 100% of the crop sale revenue
  
• Better tracking of inputs and expenses
  
• Control over marketing and harvest timing
  
  

We charge a per-acre or per-task fee, agreed upon in advance. For many landowners, the result is a higher net return per acre than traditional leasing—without taking on the physical labor or equipment risks.

5. Reduce Risk and Increase Transparency

Custom farming relationships are built on communication. At Bunne Farms, we provide:

• Field updates
  
• Crop progress reports
  
• Weather-related action plans
  
• Yield summaries and harvest data
  
  

You know exactly what's happening on your land—when, where, and why. This reduces uncertainty and ensures your land is farmed the right way.

6. Sustainable Land Stewardship

Your land is an investment—possibly even a legacy. Custom farming allows for careful stewardship, ensuring that:

• Crop rotation supports long-term soil health
  
• Conservation practices are applied correctly
  
• Nutrient and erosion management are optimized
  
• Tiling, field shaping, and fertility plans are documented and followed
  
  

At Bunne Farms, we treat your fields like our own. We're not just focused on the current season—we manage with a long-term vision that protects and enhances your land's value.

FAQs About Custom Farming in Minnesota

Why Work with Bunne Farms?

Bunne Farms has served landowners in Southeast Minnesota since 1925. Our custom farming clients trust us because we offer:

• Full-service operations with modern equipment
  
• Transparent communication and reporting
  
• Local knowledge of corn, soybeans, and soil conditions
  
• Reliable scheduling and efficient execution
• Honest, family-run service from a farm you can visit and call directly
  

Whether you're in Dodge County, Fillmore County, or anywhere nearby, we're ready to make your land work for you—without the work on your end.

Let’s Make Your Land Productive—Without the Stress

Ready to take the next step? Whether you want to transition out of active farming or simply don’t have the time to manage your land this year, custom farming with Bunne Farms is the smart choice.

Call today to schedule a consultation, and let’s build a custom plan for your property.

Call Joe at (507) 251-3629

 Based in Ostrander, MN – Serving Southeast Minnesota and surrounding areas