What is referred to as renting land from landowners for cash?

The process of renting land from landowners for cash is referred to as tenant farming. In tenant farming, individuals (tenants) lease land from landowners and pay them cash rent in exchange for the right to cultivate the land and harvest crops. This arrangement typically involves the tenant providing their own labor and resources to farm the land, which distinguishes it from models like sharecropping, where the tenant may give a share of the crops to the landowner instead of cash.

Tenant farming became particularly prevalent in the Southern United States after the Civil War, as many former enslaved individuals sought opportunities to work the land. This arrangement allowed landowners to maintain their agricultural operations while providing tenants with the opportunity to farm without having to own land.

Leasing also involves the rental of land, but it can encompass a broader range of agreements and is not limited specifically to agricultural contexts, which makes 'tenant farming' the more precise term in this historical and economical context.