CGCustomGrazing

Washington grazing rates

Washington pasture rent runs $19.00/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $17.00/AUM (USDA NASS, 2024 survey). Pastureland cash rent averages $8.60/acre (USDA NASS, 2025). Grass hay is $233/ton this week (USDA AMS). Feeding that hay costs about $3.95 per pair per day.

USSouthern PlainsNorthern PlainsMidwestWestSoutheast

West · Washington

This week

Feeder Cattle Index
$359.19/​cwt
national
Grass hay
$233/​ton
WA
Hay feed cost
$3.95
per pair per day

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

What grass rents for

NASS pastureland rent
$17.00/​AUM
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
Cow-calf pair rent
$19.00/​pair/​mo
USDA NASS, 2024 survey
State cash rent
$8.60/​acre
USDA NASS, 2025 survey
Top counties by pastureland cash rent (21 of Washington’s counties reporting)
County$/acreYear
Snohomish County$92.00/acre2025
Skagit County$70.00/acre2025
King County$58.50/acre2025
Pierce County$55.00/acre2025
Grays Harbor County$42.50/acre2025
Lewis County$37.00/acre2025
Kittitas County$35.50/acre2025
Thurston County$33.00/acre2025
San Juan County$29.00/acre2025
Yakima County$27.00/acre2025
Pacific County$14.00/acre2025
Stevens County$10.50/acre2025
Grant County$9.90/acre2025
Spokane County$8.10/acre2025
Garfield County$8.00/acre2025
$/AUM by year, WA
$17$122010: $122012: $122013: $13.52014: $13.52015: $132016: $142017: $142018: $14.52019: $14.52020: $14.52021: $14.52022: $162023: $162024: $162025: $17201020142017202020232025

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

Hay feed cost

Hay feed cost
$3.95
per pair per day, this week
Grass hay, winter average by year, WA
$290.41/ton$203/ton2022: $290.41/ton2023: $243.51/ton2024: $265.24/ton2025: $206.56/ton2026: $203/ton20222023202420252026

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

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 Washington?

Washington pasture rent runs $19.00/pair/mo per cow-calf pair and $17.00/AUM (USDA NASS, 2024 survey).

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

Grass hay is $233/ton this week (USDA AMS). Feeding that hay costs about $3.95 per pair per day.

What do Washington pastureland cash rents run per acre?

Pastureland cash rent averages $8.60/acre (USDA NASS, 2025).