>State Statisticsl Report R:bluest98

BLUESTEM
PASTURE

SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE

Released: April 24, 1998
KANSAS
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS

Fact Finding
For Agriculture

Kansas Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
632 SW Van Buren, Rm. 200
P.O. Box 3534
Topeka, Kansas 66601-3534
Phone: (785) 233-2230

Bluestem pastures in the Flint Hills region are in good to excellent condition going into the 1998 grazing season, according to Kansas Agricultural Statistics. Pasture conditions across the Flint Hills region, as of mid-April, were rated 96 percent of normal. As of April 19, topsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly adequate to surplus throughout the Flint Hills region. With excellent moisture supplies, pasture grasses should grow rapidly as warmer temperatures arrive. Although low cattle prices are a concern, there appear to be plenty of cattle for grazing. The percentage of available pasture already contracted, as of mid-April, stood at 98 percent. Fifty-seven percent of the acres are under full summer season contracts, 19 percent will be under short-season contracts, and 24 percent leased for the full year. The 1992 U.S. Census of Agriculture for Kansas indicates the acreage of pasture lands and rangelands total approximately 3.9 million acres in the Flint Hills region. The sources of stock water across the region and the respective frequency of use are: ponds, 59 percent; streams and springs, 34 percent; and wells, 7 percent. Water supplies are excellent with ponds overflowing in some areas

Under full summer season contracts, average lease rates for steers and heifers and cow/calf pairs were mixed when compared with a year ago (see Table 1). The 1998 average lease price per head for steers and heifers under 700 pounds for full summer season contracts increased $1.60 to $61.90. The lease rate for steers and heifers over 700 pounds averaged $74.60, up $2.50 from 1997. The rates for cows with fall calves, at $110.20, decreased $3.20 from a year ago, while cows with spring calves were unchanged at $101.40. Table 2 illustrates that the average number of grass acres guaranteed for steers and heifers were unchanged or higher than 1997. The average acres for cow/calf pairs were basically unchanged from 1997. Current rates on a per acre basis stood at $16.90, up $1.00 from the 1997 average rate. The lease rate per acre with services, which include the pasture contractor's responsibility for salt, water, and care averaged $17.80 per acre, a $1.30 increase from 1997. The lease rate when the pasture contractor provides no service averaged $16.20 per acre, up 70 cents
from 1997. Table 5 illustrates weight group breakdowns for the three regions. The average reported date for the start of the grazing season under full summer season contracts in the Flint Hills region is April 23, ranging from an early date of April 17 in Chase County to April 30 in Geary and Pottawatomie counties. The average reported ending date for the grazing season is October 17.

The average reported starting date for intensive or short season grazing is April 24. The average number of grazing days for steers and heifers under 700 pounds is 94 days. Current lease rates on a per acre basis averaged $19.90. The lease rate per acre with services, at $22.00, increased $1.70 from a year ago, and the rate without services, at $17.90, down 60 cents from 1997. The average lease price per head for steers and heifers under 700 pounds (see Table 3) increased $4.30 to $52.90. The lease rate for stockers under 500 pounds was $51.50, up $3.40 from 1997. The rate for the 500-699 pound weight group, at $53.80 increased $4.80 per head. Steers and heifers over 700 pounds averaged $64.00 per head. Steers and heifers under 700 pounds were guaranteed an average of 2.8 acres of grass per head, while those over 700 pounds averaged 2.7 acres of grass.

Ten percent of the reports indicated contracts based on price per pound of gain, compared with 8 percent in 1997. Prices varied from 30 to 38 cents per pound of gain and averaged 32 cents.

The average price per cow with calf reported under full year leasing arrangements was $119.20 with 8.9 acres guaranteed. Lease rates on a per acre basis averaged $14.40 for the full year.

In winter yearling grazing arrangements, the average reported price was $5.50 per head per month with 4.3 acres guaranteed.

Seventy-one percent of the respondents reported burning of pastures, down 3 percent from a year ago. The average burning date was April 11.

Table 1-- BLUESTEM PASTURE LEASE RATES & PERCENT LEASED, 1994-1998

Year	Average Lease Price per Head for Full Summer Season							Price for Pastures Rented on "Per Acre" Basis	Percent of Pastures Leased Mid-April
	Steers and Heifers				Cows
	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds	With Fall Calves	With Spring Calves	All Cows
	- - - - - - - - - - Dollars - - - - - - - - - -								Percent
1994	57 .80	61 .20	59 .80	71 .10	110 .50	100 .90	104 .40	14 .60	98
1995	57 .60	61 .00	59 .90	70 .20	112 .20	100 .60	104 .60	14 .70	98
1996	58 .40	64 .00	62 .20	69 .50	109 .80	99 .40	102 .40	15 .30	99
1997	55 .40	62 .70	60 .30	72 .10	113 .40	101 .40	105 .20	15 .90	99
1998	59 .20	63 .60	61 .90	74 .60	110 .20	101 .40	104 .40	16 .90	98

Table 2-- BLUESTEM PASTURE RENTAL ACREAGE GUARANTEES, CONDITION, & CATTLE PRICES, 1994-98

Year	Average Acres of Grass Guaranteed per Head for Full Summer Season							Pasture Condition Percent of Normal Mid-April	Prices Received by Farmers during February per 100 Pounds
	Steers and Heifers				Cows
	Under 500 Pound s	500- 699 Pound s	Under 700 Pound s	Over 700 Pound s	With Fall Calves	With Spring Calves	All Cows
	Under 500 Pound s	500- 699 Pound s	Under 700 Pound s	Over 700 Pound s	With Fall Calves	With Spring Calves	All Cows		Beef Cattle	Calves
	- - - - - - - - - - Acres - - - - - - - - - -							Percent	Dollars
1994	3 .9	4 .1	4 .0	4 .8	8 .1	7 .2	7 .6	89	73 .30	101 .00
1995	3 .9	4 .5	4 .3	4 .8	8 .1	7 .4	7 .6	93	72 .00	91 .00
1996	3 .7	4 .2	4 .1	4 .6	7 .6	7 .1	7 .3	54	60 .50	59 .50
1997	3 .5	3 .9	3 .8	4 .8	7 .6	6 .9	7 .3	90	64 .50	77 .00
1998	3 .8	3 .9	3 .9	4 .8	7 .6	6 .8	7 .3	96	61 .90	93 .00

Table 3-- BLUESTEM PASTURE LEASE RATES & ACREAGE GUARANTEES, SHORT SUMMER SEASON, 1994- 98

Year	Average Lease Price per Head for Short Season (Dollars)				Average Acres of Grass Guaranteed per Head
	Steers and Heifers				Steers and Heifers
	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds
1994	43 .90	44 .60	44 .30	61 .90	2 .2	2 .4	2 .4	3 .1
1995	45 .60	46 .50	46 .20	50 .70	2 .5	2 .6	2 .5	2 .8
1996	47 .60	47 .90	47 .80	56 .50	2 .5	2 .5	2 .5	3 .0
1997	48 .10	49 .00	48 .60	58 .40	2 .3	3 .0	2 .7	2 .9
1998	51 .50	53 .80	52 .90	64 .00	2 .6	2 .9	2 .8	2 .7

Text Box
Table 4-- FULL YEAR LEASING

	Cows with Fall Calves	Cows with Spring Calves
Avg. Lease Price per Head	121 .70	117 .40
Avg. Acres Guaranteed per Head	9 .2	8 .6
Price for Pastures Rented on 'Per Acre' Basis	14.40

Table 5-- AVERAGE BLUESTEM PASTURE LEASE RATES, 1998, FULL SUMMER SEASON CONTRACTS

Type of Lease	Average Lease Price per Head for Full Summer Season (Dollars)							Price for Pastures Rented on "Per Acre" Basis
	Steers and Heifers				Cows
	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds	With Fall Calves	With Spring Calves	All Cows
NORTHERN ZONE 1/
With Service	-	73 .70	66 .90	77 .10	112 .80	106 .50	108 .40	18 .20
Without Service	62 .80	59 .30	60 .50	67 .90	104 .70	91 .60	96 .20	15 .70
Combined Average Lease Rate	58 .20	64 .40	62 .60	71 .20	106 .90	96 .50	99 .90	16 .60
CENTRAL ZONE 1/
With Service	58 .60	67 .60	64 .10	-	124 .00	105 .40	113 .90	18 .00
Without Service	56 .90	58 .20	57 .70	71 .70	110 .90	104 .60	106 .20	17 .10
Combined Average Lease Rate	57 .70	62 .20	60 .50	80 .20	117 .90	104 .90	109 .20	17 .50
SOUTHERN ZONE 1/
With Service	66 .50	69 .60	68 .40	72 .80	117 .10	111 .30	113 .30	17 .40
Without Service	56 .60	58 .70	57 .70	67 .00	102 .70	96 .80	99 .10	15 .00
Combined Average Lease Rate	60 .80	64 .50	62 .90	71 .30	108 .10	103 .10	104 .90	16 .20
14 COUNTY BLUESTEM PASTURE AREA
With Service	61 .20	69 .50	66 .50	79 .10	118 .30	108 .30	111 .90	17 .80
Without Service	57 .90	58 .60	58 .30	69 .10	105 .00	97 .30	99 .90	16 .20
Combined Average Lease Rate	59 .20	63 .60	61 .90	74 .60	110 .20	101 .40	104 .40	16 .90

Table 6-- AVERAGE BLUESTEM PASTURE LEASE RATES, 1998, SHORT SUMMER SEASON CONTRACTS

Type
of
Lease Average Lease Price per Head for Short Season (Dollars) Price for
Pastures
Rented on
"Per Acre"
Basis

Steers and Heifers

Under
500
Pounds 500-
699
Pounds Under
700
Pounds Over
700
Pounds

NORTHERN ZONE 1/

With Service - 52 .90 52 .90 - 19 .10

Without Service - 50 .40 51 .80 - 17 .10

Combined Average Lease Rate - 51 .80 52 .40 - 17 .90

CENTRAL ZONE 1/

With Service 53 .90 56 .80 55 .70 - 21 .00

Without Service 49 .00 50 .00 49 .70 - 19 .10

Combined Average Lease Rate 51 .50 52 .80 52 .40 - 20 .00

SOUTHERN ZONE 1/

With Service 56 .00 57 .10 56 .60 66 .30 23 .50

Without Service 47 .50 53 .10 50 .10 55 .00 16 .60

Combined Average Lease Rate 51 .20 55 .30 53 .40 61 .40 20 .10

14 COUNTY BLUESTEM PASTURE AREA

With Service 55 .40 56 .10 55 .80 66 .20 22 .00

Without Service 48 .60 51 .50 50 .30 61 .30 17 .90

Combined Average Lease Rate 51 .50 53 .80 52 .90 64 .00 19 .90

1/ Zones are defined on the Kansas Bluestem Pasture map, page 2.

CUSTOM FENCE BUILDING RATES

The rate charged for building a five-wire, all steel post fence, including materials, averaged $11.92 per rod. The rate excluding materials averaged
$5.94 per rod. Average hourly rates charged for fence building are $10.35 per hour without equipment, and $24.35 per hour with equipment.

Table 7-- RANGE OF BLUESTEM PASTURE LEASE RATES, 1998 FULL SUMMER SEASON 1/

Type
of
Lease Lease Price Range per Head for Season (Dollars) Price for
Pastures
Rented on
"Per Acre"
Basis

Steers and Heifers Cows

Under
500
Pounds 500-
699
Pounds Under
700
Pounds Over
700
Pounds With
Fall
Calves With
Spring
Calves All
Cows

NORTHERN ZONE 2/

With Service - 60-85 55-85 60-71 95-151 75-140 80-150 15-22

Without Service 50-80 45-72 45-75 60-80 80-130 75-120 70-120 13-20

Combined Average Lease Rate 50-75 45-84 42-84 60-85 80-150 75-125 75-130 13-20

CENTRAL ZONE 2/

With Service 17-83 20-84 18-85 - 95-158 80-130 85-140 15-21

Without Service 49-70 35-78 48-74 65-80 85-150 75-140 75-140 15-21

Combined Average Lease Rate 20-80 30-84 29-83 70-93 85-152 70-140 70-150 15-21

SOUTHERN ZONE 2/

With Service 60-85 60-85 55-85 60-85 100-140 90-138 95-140 12-24

Without Service 43-72 40-68 40-72 60-73 85-125 75-125 80-125 10-20

Combined Average Lease Rate 43-85 43-82 43-85 60-100 85-132 80-132 80-132 11-22

14 COUNTY BLUESTEM PASTURE AREA

With Service 17-85 55-86 50-86 66-100 95-151 80-140 85-145 14-23

Without Service 45-75 40-78 40-75 50-80 80-135 75-125 75-130 11-20

Combined Average Lease Rate 35-80 40-84 40-83 60-95 85-145 75-135 75-140 12-21

1/ "Range" is defined as those values between which 80 percent of the reported lease rates fall.
2/ Zones are defined on the Kansas Bluestem Pasture map, page 2.

Ron Sitzman & Quentin Wearne

Eldon J. Thiessen, State Statistician

Agricultural Statisticians

Eddie Wells, Deputy State Statistician

Return to the KASS Homepage

Type of Lease	Average Lease Price per Head for Short Season (Dollars)				Price for Pastures Rented on "Per Acre" Basis
	Steers and Heifers
	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds
NORTHERN ZONE 1/
With Service	-	52 .90	52 .90	-	19 .10
Without Service	-	50 .40	51 .80	-	17 .10
Combined Average Lease Rate	-	51 .80	52 .40	-	17 .90
CENTRAL ZONE 1/
With Service	53 .90	56 .80	55 .70	-	21 .00
Without Service	49 .00	50 .00	49 .70	-	19 .10
Combined Average Lease Rate	51 .50	52 .80	52 .40	-	20 .00
SOUTHERN ZONE 1/
With Service	56 .00	57 .10	56 .60	66 .30	23 .50
Without Service	47 .50	53 .10	50 .10	55 .00	16 .60
Combined Average Lease Rate	51 .20	55 .30	53 .40	61 .40	20 .10
14 COUNTY BLUESTEM PASTURE AREA
With Service	55 .40	56 .10	55 .80	66 .20	22 .00
Without Service	48 .60	51 .50	50 .30	61 .30	17 .90
Combined Average Lease Rate	51 .50	53 .80	52 .90	64 .00	19 .90

Type of Lease	Lease Price Range per Head for Season (Dollars)							Price for Pastures Rented on "Per Acre" Basis
	Steers and Heifers				Cows
	Under 500 Pounds	500- 699 Pounds	Under 700 Pounds	Over 700 Pounds	With Fall Calves	With Spring Calves	All Cows
NORTHERN ZONE 2/
With Service	-	60-85	55-85	60-71	95-151	75-140	80-150	15-22
Without Service	50-80	45-72	45-75	60-80	80-130	75-120	70-120	13-20
Combined Average Lease Rate	50-75	45-84	42-84	60-85	80-150	75-125	75-130	13-20
CENTRAL ZONE 2/
With Service	17-83	20-84	18-85	-	95-158	80-130	85-140	15-21
Without Service	49-70	35-78	48-74	65-80	85-150	75-140	75-140	15-21
Combined Average Lease Rate	20-80	30-84	29-83	70-93	85-152	70-140	70-150	15-21
SOUTHERN ZONE 2/
With Service	60-85	60-85	55-85	60-85	100-140	90-138	95-140	12-24
Without Service	43-72	40-68	40-72	60-73	85-125	75-125	80-125	10-20
Combined Average Lease Rate	43-85	43-82	43-85	60-100	85-132	80-132	80-132	11-22
14 COUNTY BLUESTEM PASTURE AREA
With Service	17-85	55-86	50-86	66-100	95-151	80-140	85-145	14-23
Without Service	45-75	40-78	40-75	50-80	80-135	75-125	75-130	11-20
Combined Average Lease Rate	35-80	40-84	40-83	60-95	85-145	75-135	75-140	12-21