Western South Dakota 2018 Cow/Calf Grazing Prices

Jun 26, 2018

By Shannon Sand and Jack Davis

Grazing prices for summer 2018 in Western South Dakota for cow/calf pairs1 are steady to $10.00 higher (Table 1). According to USDA-AMS some land owners went up to either cover costs of higher taxes or if full care of the land is included. While lower prices generally mean the tenants have to care for the land themselves, this includes fixing fences, caring for water, etc.

Table 1. Grazing Prices for South West South Dakota Cow/calf pair per month.

Cow/Calf Grazing Fees
	2017	2018
Range	$35.00-50.00	$35.00-68.00
Mostly	$35.00-40.00	$45.00-55.00

Yearling Grazing Prices

The range of prices for South West South Dakota yearlings has increased slightly from 2017 (Table 2). While the most commonly reported prices were between $20.00-25.00 per head, the range for 2018 is slightly wider than 2017.

Table 2. Grazing Prices for South West South Dakota Yearlings per month.

Yearling Grazing Fees
	2017	2018
Range	$17.00-25.00	$17.00-30.00
Mostly	$20.00	$20.00-25.00

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

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That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.