Cow Pasture Offer

keegs · Apr 11, 2011

I've got a twenty acre hay field that I'm considering for cow pasture. There's timothy planted in the field right now. There's no fence, so putting one up will likely be part of any deal that's agreed to. There's a small pond nearby and a small brook that feeds it. I don't want the pond or the brook to get fouled by runoff.

How many cows will this pasture support? What's the going rate for pasture rental?

The property is in Northern Maine. TIA

smstonypoint · Apr 11, 2011

There are a lot of factors that determine pasture stocking rates: forage type and quality, animal type (e.g., cow-calf versus stocker), feeding hay and supplements, etc. Your best bet is to contact your local Cooperative Extension office for advice on your particular situation.

The USDA reports average cash rents for pasture land, but I see that they do not report a value for Maine. The average for Vermont in 2010 was $23/acre.NASS - Charts and Maps - Farm Values and Cash Rents. There is considerable variation in cash rents within and across counties in other states, so I assume the same is true for Maine. The rates will depend on carrying capacity, fencing, etc. Visiting with neighbors and your local Cooperative Extension and FSA staff may provide some idea of the going rate.

Steve

sweettractors · Apr 11, 2011

keegs said:
I've got a twenty acre hay field that I'm considering for cow pasture. There's timothy planted in the field right now. There's no fence, so putting one up will likely be part of any deal that's agreed to. There's a small pond nearby and a small brook that feeds it. I don't want the pond or the brook to get fouled by runoff.

How many cows will this pasture support? What's the going rate for pasture rental?

The property is in Northern Maine. TIA

In Ky 1 acre will support 1 cow/calf if soil fertility levels are correct and we have a good stand of grass and get the rain when needed. I would go about 1/2 that to protect your existing stand of grasses. If you had fences, $8 per head per month would not be far off for the mature cows. Ken Sweet