1,649 Acres, Custer County – James Ranch

The James Ranch is comprised of 1,649.40 ± deeded acres by Custer County records.  This is excellent Nebraska ranch for sale is a hardland range with very few cedar trees or weeds. The longterm tenant has kept up with cedar removal and has sprayed for weeds yearly, and as such, this is as fine a hardland range to be found anywhere is Custer County.

The south half of the ranch is all that has been grazed in 2023, and the grass is still in good to excellent condition. The north half of the ranch is typically saved for winter grazing. It has been untouched in the spring and summer of 2023, and is in excellent condition. Current tenant will move cattle to the north pastures in late October/ early November until December 31, 2023. Perimeter fencing around the entire ranch is excellent with newer, tight, five wire fencing built to last.

The ranch is watered via an electric well and pipeline with seven distributed tanks, as well as a good body of water held behind a stock dam. A tank in the paddocks at the improvement site as well as another tank in the northwest pasture takes care of watering the winter range. These tanks are watered via the domestic well that also serves the home on the improvement site. These winter tanks are just steps away from the house, making them convenient to check in the winter months.

The ranch is cross-fenced for as many as 15 pastures, but many of these have the cross fencing lowered so as to create larger pastures. Current fencing patters and uses cut this property up into nine pastures, four used in the summer, five used in the winter. There are good cattle handling improvements at the home site, as well as various smaller outbuildings for vet work and storage. The home is a modest but livable homestead with a new furnace, good permanent siding and a newer roof.  The ranch enjoys excellent access with a great county road winding through it. Whitetailed deer, Mule deer and wild turkey provide great recreational opportunities on this ranch.

The ranch has been evaluated for estimated carrying capacities as well as estimated landlord revenue on a summer grazing basis utilizing cow/calf pairs and market rents.  The ranch has had a long term tenant who has worked and cared for the land, preserving its value and carrying on the care and pride taken by the James family through the generations.

Deeded Acres By County Record  
Entire Unit | Taxes: $15,480.50
TOTAL ESTIMATED ACRES: 1,649.40±

James Ranch Location/Background
The James Ranch is in South Central Custer County a few miles southwest of Oconto, Nebraska, and approximately 25 miles North from Lexington, which has one of the largest beef packing plants in the region.  This ranch has been in the James family for over 100 years, and is now available for a new generation.

Legal Description
The James Ranch is located in Custer County, NE (See Exhibit A Legal Description)

Rainfall
The rainfall in the area and location of this ranch ranges from 20”-24” per year with most of it falling during the growing season.  It is generally considered consistent and reliable to the extent that cattle sell downs because droughts are rare.

Minerals
The current ownership wishes to retain all the owned minerals.

Exchanges
The current ownership will cooperate with 1031 exchanges.

Ogallala Aquifer
The Sandhills of Nebraska support the largest fresh water aquifer in the continental U.S.  Known as the Ogallala or High Plains Aquifer, it develops fresh water bearing material where this ranch is located.  Stock wells and irrigation wells are generally considered shallow by comparison to other cattle producing regions in other states.  The James Ranch is located in the Ogallala Aquifer that supports approximately 400-600 feet of fresh water bearing material in the area of the ranch.  Static and pumping levels for both domestic and stock wells are considered shallow and excellent.

Carrying Capacity Estimate 
Capacity Based on 20-24” Annual Rainfall, for 5 months of grazing
1,649.40 acres
1,649 acres, .65 AUM = 1,072 AUM
1,072/12 = 89.33 AU’s
12 months x .65 AUM = 18.46 AC/AU
89.33 AUs x .6 annual rainfall = 54 Cows
1,072 AUM/5 months/1.6 BWE = 214 pairs
214 pairs x $70 pp x 5months = $74,900.00 yearly grass income.

Capacity based on Full Year Use
1649 Acres at .65 AUMs = 1,072 AUMs
1,072 AUM /12 months = 89.33 AUs
89 AU x .80 = 71 head (cow/calf, retaining, replacement, bulls)
1649 Acres/89 AUs = 19 AC/AU
1649 Acres/71 Cows = 23 ac/cow

County: Custer
Address: Oconto, NE 68860