They're looking to lease your land.

Drill for natural gas, and turn a profit.

More and more gas companies are coming to the area with hopes of striking it rich.

Thursday night, a special informational meeting in Conklin aimed to show land owners how they can take advantage.

And not be taken advantage of.

"We have land owners in the Southern Tier that are making hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars," says Lindsay Wickham of the New York State Farm Bureau.

These people hope to be next.

As natural gas might lay beneath their property.

"This is going to be the largest I feel stimulus package that we're going to see in a long time. This is our time," says Daniel Fitzsimmons of Conklin.

Local landowners were invited to this meeting, to find out what they should do, when the gas company comes knocking.

Before they can drill on your property you need to sign the all-important lease.

But don't forget...

"Everything in a lease in negotiable," says Wickham.

Don't let yourself be taken advantage of.

Do all you can to protect your land.

And get the best upfront and royalty payments you can.

Not sure how much to ask for?

Do your research, and talk to your neighbors.

Some people are looking to increase their possible profit, by teaming up with others.

One such group includes landowners from the Towns of Conklin and Binghamton.

"If you can get the whole community, the more the better. The more continuous acreage we can get, the better off we're going to be. The more negotiating power we have," says Fitzsimmons.

He says the group can even write up it's own lease.

"And then you take it into negotiation with the gas companies. You bring in these gas companies and have them bid on it. That's the best way to do this for the people. It's not the best way for the gas companies," says Fitzsimmons.

Wickham says gas companies have been leasing land for anywhere from 50 dollars, to 2-thousand dollars per acre upfront.

He says more companies are arriving in Broome County by the week.

Another informational meeting is scheduled for April 20th.

A location is yet to be determined.

We'll let you know, as soon as we find out.