The Ups and Downs of Cash Rents

Monitoring changes in cash rents on agricultural land isn’t quite as exhilarating as the up and downs of a roller coaster, but rents over the last year in Nebraska did see both ups and downs. The top county average cash rents for dryland (+$13.00) and pasture ground (+$14.50) are higher compared to last year. The top county rent for irrigated ground is lower (-$10.00). The latest estimates were released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in late August. The NASS figures come from surveys of farmers and ranchers. Estimates for counties are not published if there are an insufficient number of responses or the confidentiality of producers could be compromised.

The maps below detail 2025 average cash rents for counties as reported by NASS across the three land categories: irrigated, dryland, and pasture. No data was released for counties colored grey. Northeast Nebraska remains the locus for the highest rates in the state. Cedar County has the highest average rate for irrigated cropland at $355.00 per acre; Dakota County has the highest rent for dryland at $293.00; and Wayne County claims the highest pasture rent at $90.50. One would surmise greater productivity or carrying capacity in this region leads to higher rates.

FIGURE 1. AVERAGE CASH RENT FOR IRRIGATED LAND, 2025 ($ PER ACRE)

Source: Rolling Prairie Economics graphic based on data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Dixon and Thurston Counties follow Cedar County for the highest rates on irrigated land with rents of $347.00 and $345.00 per acre, respectively. The lowest rent is in Kimball County at $159.00. The average rent across counties is $266.50 per acre compared to $264.00 last year. Cuming and Thurston Counties follow Dakota County on dryland with rates of $286.00 and $276.00 per acre, respectively. The lowest rent is in Kimball County at $28.00 per acre. The county average is $142.08 per acre down from $150.00 last year. The second and third highest rents for pasture are in Cuming County at $80.00 per acre and Stanton County at $73.00 per acre. The average was $35.40 versus $36.00 last year. Scotts Bluff County has the lowest rate at $11.

FIGURE 2. AVERAGE CASH RENT FOR DRYLAND, 2025 ($ PER ACRE)

Source: Rolling Prairie Economics graphic based on data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

FIGURE 3. AVERAGE CASH RENT FOR PASTURE, 2025 ($ PER ACRE)

Source: Rolling Prairie Economics graphic based on data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Changes in cash rents follow trends in farm returns with a one-to-two-year lag and less volatility. While rents for crop ground were mostly steady this year, declines were seen in some counties. One would expect rents to continue to decline given the struggle for positive returns in the crop sector. Rents for pasture, though, should remain steady to higher as cattle prices are expected to remain high.