CGCustomGrazing

New Mexico grazing rates

New Mexico pasture rent runs $18.50/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $17.50/AUM (USDA NASS, 2020 survey). Pastureland cash rent averages $4.10/acre (USDA NASS, 2025).

Southern Plains · New Mexico

This week

Feeder Cattle Index
$359.19/​cwt
national
Feeder cattle
$332.93/​cwt
773 lb avg, NM

Source: USDA AMS via LivestockValue and HayValue, week of Jul 30, 2026

What grass rents for

NASS pastureland rent
$17.50/​AUM
USDA NASS, 2024 survey
Cow-calf pair rent
$18.50/​pair/​mo
USDA NASS, 2020 survey
State cash rent
$4.10/​acre
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
Top counties by pastureland cash rent (23 of New Mexico’s counties reporting)
County$/acreYear
Curry County$8.00/acre2025
Union County$6.20/acre2025
Quay County$5.80/acre2025
Roosevelt County$5.60/acre2025
Colfax County$5.40/acre2025
Mora County$5.30/acre2025
San Juan County$4.00/acre2025
Harding County$3.80/acre2025
De Baca County$3.30/acre2025
Grant County$2.80/acre2025
Lincoln County$2.70/acre2025
Valencia County$2.50/acre2025
San Miguel County$2.10/acre2025
Chaves County$2.00/acre2025
Santa Fe County$1.90/acre2025
$/AUM by year, NM
$17.5$11.52010: $11.52012: $12.52013: $132014: $13.52015: $15.52016: $142017: $15.52018: $162019: $162020: $16.52021: $16.52022: $16.52023: $16.52024: $17.5201020142017202020232024

Source: USDA NASS Cash Rents, USDA NASS, 2024 survey.

Grass gain

Grass at $17.50/AUM prices gain at $0.20 to $0.27 per lb. The market pays $332.93/cwt for 773-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 New Mexico?

New Mexico pasture rent runs $18.50/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $17.50/AUM (USDA NASS, 2020 survey).

What do New Mexico pastureland cash rents run per acre?

Pastureland cash rent averages $4.10/acre (USDA NASS, 2025).