2026 Nebraska Rental Rates
What does it cost to rent pasture this year? The final 2026 Nebraska Cash Rental Rates Survey results are now available.
Average monthly pasture rental rates increased between 2%–8% compared to last grazing season, continuing the upward trend across Nebraska.
The north reporting district — primarily the Sandhills — reported the highest average rate at $82.10 per cow-calf pair per month. The northeast and central districts followed at $77.35 and $74.60, while the northwest district — including much of the Panhandle — had the lowest average at $56.45 per pair per month. Most other areas of the state averaged between $61–$70 per pair each month.
Keep in mind these are averages. Actual rental rates depend on factors such as pasture quality, fences and water, management responsibilities, cattle size and local demand.
Whether you're renting pasture or leasing it to someone else, a written lease is one of the best risk management tools available. Be sure it clearly outlines the stocking rate or number of cattle, grazing period, payment terms, and how unexpected events like drought will be handled.
View the complete 2026 Nebraska Cash Rental Rates Survey on the Center for Agricultural Profitability website.
Late Rains and Native Range
Late rains have improved the appearance of native range across parts of Nebraska, but green is not always the same as growth.
Mid-June clipping data from the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory showed cool-season forage production at only about 20% of normal, with total forage production at roughly 30% of normal. While that is one location and conditions vary across the state, it illustrates how far behind some pastures were heading into summer.
While cool-season production can be significant, native range often contains a large amount of warm-season grasses, especially as we head east across the state. These plants make much of their growth during the heat of summer, so late June and July rain can still produce meaningful forage.
However, that response is not automatic. Growth depends on how much rain falls, whether moisture continues and how much plant vigor remains. With cool-season production already reduced, grazing pressure may also shift heavily toward warm-season grasses as they begin growing.
Do not estimate available forage from the road. Walk pastures and look at plant height, leaf area, residual forage, bare ground and how evenly cattle are grazing.
Late moisture gives native range an opportunity, but it does not erase the earlier forage deficit. Protecting leaf area and allowing adequate recovery will help plants use the next rain and rebuild vigor heading into fall.
Mid-Season Forage Check
As we move through mid-summer, it’s time to evaluate our forage situation. Depending on your location, meadow hay harvest might be starting, you could be on your second cutting of alfalfa or preparing to cut warm-season annual crops soon.
Now is a great time to assess your forage inventory. Most perennial grasses have completed their growth, and multiple alfalfa cuttings should be done. Even if not all meadow hay and summer annuals are harvested, we can estimate our total yield for the year.
Ask yourself: Does our current yield meet our winter feed needs? If not, consider options like late planting of summer annuals or fall forages like oats for grazing. Be cautious with planning fall hay harvests, however, due to drying challenges.
If you have excess hay, plan on how to manage it. For selling or storing, prevent quality loss by keeping hay dry. Store it under a roof or tarp if possible, elevate it from the ground, line bales with the topography and sun, and ensure good airflow around bales to maintain quality.
Finally, if you haven’t done so, send in hay samples for quality testing. Hay quality varies year-to-year, even from the same field. Testing helps us match hay to livestock needs or set appropriate selling prices.
Assessing forage stores now, while plants are still growing and hay is being harvested, helps close forage gaps, manage surplus and ensure quality use later.
