Rent-Whats a small field worth?

knightstead · Mar 15, 2011

A couple months ago I posted a message about wanting to put a few cows in a small pasture and the comments convinced me that was a bad idea. I"d really like to get something out of this field. Renting it out for somebody with horses or cattle seems like my best option. Its roughly 5 acres, good grass, good fence, nice sized pond, and has a barn that animals could use for shelter. Any ideas on what to charge per month? Located in Central MO. If this works out I"d also like to rent out my 18 acres of grass hay fields. Any advise on price for that would be appreciated. Thanks

M Nut · Mar 15, 2011

Don't rent much ground, but what little pasture I have rented in the past was $1 per week for each cow/calf combo. (25 pairs=$25 a week) Pasture only, with no barn and just a poor pond for water source. Actually went to hauling water because the pond got very scummy by mid summer.
Hay ground I rent on a by the 1,000lb bale price. Some is given free just to have it cleaned up. Cheapest paid is $1.50 for wild canary grass- highest is $8 for decent seeded timothy, brome, alfalfa mix.
Hope this gives you a little insight. Located in central MN.

Wayne from Wi · Mar 15, 2011

You probably won't like this answer, but it's not worth much to anyone to bother hauling the animals there,the gas and time to go there to care and look after them. There will be no profit for that person. Not enough acres for enough animals to be worth the effort. Maybe get a couple animals of your own to keep the grass down. Depends on your area, and the soil type you may get someone to rent the 18 acres. Try an ad in local paper or craigslist and see what you can get. Wayne

thurlow · Mar 15, 2011

All depends on location; around 'here', established/fenced pasture rents for 25-30 dollars per acre per year.

kyhayman · Mar 15, 2011

100 a month and up for a horse on self care. 5 acres would run one or two.

knightstead · Mar 15, 2011

Thanks for the response. I was thinking about charging $6 for 4x5's, 7 for 5x5's and 8 for 5x6 bales. Sounds like those numbers are reasonable as the hay fields are very good quality. It might be worth renting out the pasture as a hay field with the others. I was thinking 40 to 50 a month for the pasture and it's looking like that is way out of line.

dmiller · Mar 15, 2011

Around here fields that small are "if you'll cut it for me you can have the hay." Most guys will not mess with any place smaller than about 15 acres. These little places are how I've been able to get my start. I offer to cut it for them for a flat rate or to let them have a share of the hay. Each landowner has something different in mind. I agree to lots of different arrangements as long as it works out to about $45 per acre to me when I'm all done. It's really quite a mess though. I spend about 1/3 of my time and fuel just moving around from place to place.

RN · Mar 15, 2011

Maybe get that for sheep pasture if someone has a flock within 5-10 miles. 10 wethered feeders for the summer would keep pasture down without over graze. A seperation fence- simple electric- to make 2 pastures would be nice for rotation- but one field lightly chewed works also. Sheep would fatten up on graze, slaughter after first snowfall. This sort of depends on coyote, wild dog threats. RN

Anonymous-0 · Mar 15, 2011

I would run cow/calf combo on it. cross fence it so you can move them back and forth and not over graze. Idea of the calf being raising your own beef. As for the 18 acres, do a 2/3 and 1/3 on the hay. The guy who mows and bales it gets 2/3. Your 1/3 should be more than enough to feed them through the winter.

Rent-Whats a small field worth?

knightstead

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M Nut

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Wayne from Wi

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thurlow

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kyhayman

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knightstead

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dmiller

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RN

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Anonymous-0

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