City rents out farmland for 58 percent more than previous contract

Higher farmland prices are benefiting the City of Decorah.

City officials on Monday night accepted bids on the rental of 44 acres of land next to the Decorah Airport.  The city was paid $260/acre rent for the previous three-year contract.  This time, Andy Orvella of Decorah had the high bid of $410/acre.  That means Orvella wiull pay just over $18,000 in rent on the farmland--more than $6,000 an acre more than the previous contract.