By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Cash rents in Texas for irrigated and non-irrigated cropland showed slight increases, while pastureland rental rates dropped, according to the new rental rates report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Each year, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts a nationwide survey to gather data and compile a report showing the average cash rental rates across the U.S.

Pastureland
The statewide average for pastureland was $8.20 per acre, which is down slightly from $8.50 last year.

Ranchers in Bowie and Delta counties paid the most to rent pastureland at an average of $22 per acre and $21 per acre in Bell County.

Several counties have cash rent rates over $17, including:

  • Morris County – $17.00/acre
  • Hale County – $17.50/acre
  • Parmer County – $17.50/acre
  • Johnson County – $17.50/acre
  • Franklin County – $18.50/acre
  • Rains County – $18.50/acre
  • Somervell County – $19.00/acre
  • Hopkins County – $19.00/acre
  • Falls County – $20.00/acre
  • Polk County – $20.50/acre

The report shows ranchers pay the least to rent pasture, at $0.90 per acre, in Winkler County.

Irrigated cropland
The statewide average paid to rent irrigated cropland rose to $117 per acre, up from $113 last year.

The highest average reported lease rates were in Hartley County at $229 per acre and Gaines County at $194 per acre.

The lowest reported rates for irrigated cropland came from Chambers County at $39.

Dryland cropland
The average cash rent rate for non-irrigated cropland in Texas is $31.50 per acre, which is a $0.50 an acre increase from last year.

In San Patricio County, farmers paid an average of $88 per acre, which is the highest in the state, according to the USDA report.

Farmers in the following counties pay an average of $50 per acre or higher for dryland:

  • Jackson County – $50.00/acre
  • Crosby County – $50.50/acre
  • Fort Bend County – $50.50/acre
  • Tom Green County – $51.50/acre
  • Victoria County – $52.00/acre
  • Williamson County – $52.50/acre
  • Refugio County – $53.00/acre
  • Wharton County – $55.50/acre
  • Calhoun County – $56.50/acre
  • Lamb County – $58.50/acre
  • Cameron County – $60.00/acre
  • Hidalgo County – $64.50/acre
  • Willacy County – $75.50/acre

The lowest rental rates were recorded in Llano County at $6.50 per acre and Sutton County at $7.60 per acre.

More information
USDA NASS conducts the county-level cash rents survey annually in all states except Alaska.

The 2024 report was released Aug. 23.

The survey targets all farms and ranches that have historically rented land on a cash basis for pasture, irrigated cropland and non-irrigated cropland. Land rented for a share of the crop, on a fee per head, per pound of gain, by animal unit month, rented free of charge, or land that includes buildings such as barns are excluded from the survey.

Click here to view the report.

Cash rent values in the article are listed on a per acre/per year format.