CGCustomGrazing

Montana grazing rates

Montana pasture rent runs $32.50/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $29.50/AUM (USDA NASS, 2025 survey). Pastureland cash rent averages $8.30/acre (USDA NASS, 2025). Grass hay is $195/ton this week (USDA AMS). Feeding that hay costs about $3.32 per pair per day.

USSouthern PlainsNorthern PlainsMidwestWestSoutheast

Northern Plains · Montana

This week

Feeder Cattle Index
$359.19/​cwt
national
Feeder cattle
$354.42/​cwt
833 lb avg, MT
Grass hay
$195/​ton
MT
Hay feed cost
$3.32
per pair per day

Source: USDA AMS via LivestockValue and HayValue, week of Jul 31, 2026

What grass rents for

NASS pastureland rent
$29.50/​AUM
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
Cow-calf pair rent
$32.50/​pair/​mo
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
State cash rent
$8.30/​acre
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
Top counties by pastureland cash rent (43 of Montana’s counties reporting)
County$/acreYear
Ravalli County$23.50/acre2025
Judith Basin County$15.50/acre2025
Pondera County$14.50/acre2025
Cascade County$13.50/acre2025
Petroleum County$12.50/acre2025
Teton County$12.50/acre2025
Gallatin County$11.50/acre2025
Fergus County$11.00/acre2025
Beaverhead County$11.00/acre2025
Fallon County$11.00/acre2025
Flathead County$11.00/acre2025
Missoula County$10.50/acre2025
Liberty County$10.00/acre2025
Madison County$10.00/acre2025
McCone County$9.60/acre2025
$/AUM by year, MT
$29.5$18.42010: $18.42012: $20.52013: $212014: $232015: $232016: $242017: $24.52018: $24.52019: $24.52020: $23.52021: $26.52022: $272023: $27.52024: $292025: $29.5201020142017202020232025

Source: USDA NASS Cash Rents, USDA NASS, 2025 survey.

Hay feed cost

Hay feed cost
$3.32
per pair per day, this week
Grass hay, winter average by year, MT
$360/ton$124.56/ton2022: $360/ton2023: $267.13/ton2024: $140/ton2025: $125/ton2026: $124.56/ton20222023202420252026

34 lb hay per pair per day (1.3 AU at 26 lb per AU). feeding waste not included.

Grass gain

Grass at $29.50/AUM prices gain at $0.34 to $0.45 per lb. The market pays $354.42/cwt for 833-lb feeders this week.

yearling at 0.7 AU. 1.5 to 2.0 lb per day gain on grass.

Published benchmarks

Some figures are published rates, not CustomGrazing listing data. Each one names its source.

FigureValueSource
US average pastureland cash rent$15.50/acreUSDA NASS Cash Rents, 2025
Kansas Flint Hills summer lease occupancy97.2% of bluestem pasture under contract, 2024–25K-State Bluestem Pasture Report, 2025
Observed asking prices, full care$30–50/AUMasking prices observed in public listings, July 2026
Observed asking prices, Texas pair rate$30–40/pair/monthasking prices observed in public listings, July 2026
Observed asking prices, custom care$1.25–2.50/head/dayasking prices observed in public listings, July 2026

Common questions

What does pasture rent cost in Montana?

Montana pasture rent runs $32.50/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $29.50/AUM (USDA NASS, 2025 survey).

What does it cost to feed hay instead of grazing in Montana?

Grass hay is $195/ton this week (USDA AMS). Feeding that hay costs about $3.32 per pair per day.

What do Montana pastureland cash rents run per acre?

Pastureland cash rent averages $8.30/acre (USDA NASS, 2025).