Associated regulations allow leases of up to fifty years, at fair market value rent.
Although short-term SUPs are intended to prevent or limit serious damage to park lands, ironically, they act as a negative incentive to basic land stewardship. It is economically irrational for farmers to undertake costly long-term land care programs, which can take years or decades to implement, since they have little assurance of a reasonable return on their investment. The leasing authority now available for the Countryside Initiative resolves this inherent dilemma. The maximum term or duration of any lease will be 50 years, at which point a new open competitive process is once again required by law. Some lessees may prefer a shorter-term lease.