Fixed stake in agrarian terrain (4)

I believe the answer is:

ante

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'fixed stake' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for ante that I've seen before include "Preposition meaning before" , "expected from stake" , "Initial bet" , "Stake put up before the deal" , "Poker-player's stake before the deal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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