North Loup River Ranch Tract 1
4,333.57 Deeded Acres
2022 RE TAXES $21,988.36
$6,000,000
Location – Overview – Nebraska Sandhills – High Plains Aquifer
The North Loup River Ranch is Nebraska ranch for sale located in the north central heart of the Nebraska Sandhills approximately 95 miles northeast from North Platte, Nebraska near the village of Brewster, county seat of Blaine County. From Brewster the ranch is located approximately three miles east via good county road. The North Loup River Ranch is located on and adjacent to the North Loup River, one of the Nebraska Sandhills major rivers. Approximately two miles of the North Loup River traverses through the southern portion of the River Ranch. The River Ranch supports sub irrigated meadow adjacent to the North Loup River as well as intermittent sub irrigated meadow along the German Valley Creek. It has seven windmills and three solar wells for livestock water along with nine water hydrants located at the building site. The North Loup River and the German Valley Creek also support livestock water.
The Nebraska Sandhills have a national, long standing reputation, as one of the finest cattle producing regions in the United States. It is the nation’s largest undisturbed native grassland area and covers approximately 13 million acres in 20 counties located in the north central part of the state. The sandhill grasses are vigorous and nutritious and have proven to be drought tolerant.
The High Plains Aquifer, also known, as the Ogallala Aquifer, has its heart located in the Nebraska Sandhills. It is the largest fresh water aquifer in the continental U.S. and supports fresh water bearing material where the ranch is located in the range of 400’ to 600’ in depth. This allows for shallow water wells that produce abundant quantities of excellent quality stock water by comparison to other cattle producing regions.
North Loup River Ranch-Tract 1
DEEDED ACRES BY COUNTY RECORD
4333.57 Acres
2022 REAL ESTATE TAXES BY COUNTY RECORD
$21,988.36
The ranch headquarters are located on the North Loup River Ranch
Owners Home – Built 1995 – 1438 Sq ft – One and a half story frame, two bedrooms, one bath, fireplace, wood deck, propane heat, and air conditioning.
Managers Modular Home – New – Built 2023 – 1067 Sq. ft. – one level, three bedrooms, two baths, propane heat, and air conditioning.
Machine Shed – 2100 Sq Ft – Four bays with overhead doors.
Cattle Shed – L Shape 2400 Sq Ft.
There is a submersible well located at the building site that services the homes and corrals.
IRRIGATION
There is an irrigation well that was drilled in 2019, located on the south side of the North Loup River on a 64 acre cultivated tract currently planted to brome grass that produces hay on a dryland basis. This tract is currently enrolled in the NRCS Grassland Conservation Program until the fall of 2025. The annual income to the ranch is $1158 per year. After the expiration of the NRCS contract a new center pivot can be installed on this level site to irrigate this tract starting in the spring of 2026.
Well Registration – G187225
Well ID -256053
Well Depth 360 Feet
Pump Depth 100 Feet
Static Water Level – 30 Feet
Pumping Level – 70 Feet
GPM Tested for 500 GPM
ULNRD CIAS – 65
Owner – Monaghan Farms Inc
Well Drilled 2019
RAINFALL
The rainfall belt in the area and location of this ranch ranges from 20 -24 inches per year with the majority of it falling during the grass growing season. It is generally considered consistent and reliable to the extent that cattle sell downs because of drought are rare.
RECREATION
This entire ranch is wildlife friendly for both Mule and White tail deer, and wild turkey. Both Sharp-tail and Prairie grouse are prime upland species in the area. Waterfowl hunting is also available with the North Loup River sloughs and many Sandhill lakes in the area.
The River Ranch has a well-constructed fish pond built by the owner years ago for private fishing on the ranch itself. It is deep enough to support game fish that have been stocked. It is supported by continued fresh water coming in from the North Loup River. It is considered an extra amenity that is seldom found on a typical Sandhills ranch.
CATTLE MARKETS
With such high cattle numbers in the state, Nebraska has long been known to support several sale barns in the Sandhills. Good sale barns are located in Broken Bow, Bassett, Burwell, and Erickson just to name a few. There are special sales in the form of special stock cow, bred heifer, calf, and yearling sales throughout the year. Nebraska also has video auction sales which more and more ranchers are utilizing for the stocker-feeder cattle.
MINERALS
The current ownership will retain all owned minerals.
EXCHANGES
The current ownership will cooperate with 1031 exchanges.
APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT AND REVENUE
The family has owned this ranch for over five decades in an owner-operator posture. They have run approximately 350 cows with replacements and bulls on a year around basis on the total acreage of 6242.36 acres. With just the North Loup River Ranch and without the Edith Valley Summer Range the ownership would estimate the ranch to run 200 to 250 cows with replacements and bulls on a year around basis on the 4333.57 acres. Management could put up hay sufficient to winter the cattle and graze the balance of the ranch. The estimated hay production for the last five years has been a low of 353 Ton to a high of 938 Ton with an average of 686 Ton for the five year average.
The North Loup River Ranch (4333.57 acres) has excellent sub irrigated river meadow that can be hayed generally every year. In addition, the German Valley Creek located in the northeast portion ranch also has sub irrigated meadow that can be hayed on an intermittent basis depending upon rainfall. Portions of this meadow can be hayed every year on a one third basis or every three years on a total basis. German Valley Creek also supplies stock water for cattle. All the sub irrigated ecological sites can support excellent grazing at different times of the year depending upon management.
The ranch resource has been analyzed for estimated carrying capacity relative to time, use, and balance under what would be a typical use in a landlord posture. Sub irrigated meadow acres have been estimated by Surety measurement. The NRCS acreage measurements have also been recognized.
The North Loup River Meadow was Surety measured to be approximately 205 acres (north of the river). The NRCS pasture measured approximately 550 acres (Upper 356.8, Lower 108.6 and 85.7 acres both north and south of the river), however, these have additional acres measured that are upland ecological sites that may be intermittently hayed from one year to the next.
The German Valley Creek Meadow was Surety measured to be approximately 410 acres. However, this includes additional acres in the North Flat that are hayed that are also part of the German Valley. Those acres are included in the North Middle-North Flat Pasture.
The pivot site is NRCS measured at 64 acres and is currently planted to dryland brome grass. It has two more Conservation payments left. After 2025 it can be fully developed to center pivot irrigation. This is a very good ecological site with above average soils for the area and when developed expected to produce good forage consistently. It can be powered by electricity or natural gas when developed to center pivot.
North Loup River Ranch Landlord Estimated Carrying Capacity and Revenue Estimate
64 acres pivot site brome @ $75/acre Cash rent
625 acres meadow/brome-hayed 450 ton @ 2.5 AUMS/Ton – 1125 AUMS
(625) acres sub irrigated meadow aftermath grazing @ .5 AUMS – 313 AUMS
3474 acres sandhills/sub irrigated native range grazing @ .65 AUMS – 2258 AUMS
170 acres wetland, site, road
4333 acres -3696 AUMS
3696 AUMS/12 months – 308 AUS or 14 ACRES/AU
Landlord Revenue Estimate
64 acres pivot site brome @ $75/acre cash rent $4,800
625 acres hayed 450 ton @ $120/ton/2 – $27,000 LL Share (INC. Aftermath)
2258 AUMS/5 months/1.5 BWE – 300 Pair @ $ 75/pair/month 5 months – $112,500 LL Share
Ranch Gross Income
$144,300.00
Real Estate Taxes $22,000.00
R & R $ 4,000.00
Net LL Income Est $118,300.00
BROKER COMMENTS
A ranch that has been under single ownership for five decades. Two miles of North Loup River traversing through the south heart of the ranch makes it especially attractive for recreational opportunities as well as for the support of the sub irrigated river meadow for hay production. Also, the private fishing on the ranch sets it apart from the average Sandhill ranch. In addition, the ranch supports, adjacent to the building site, a private, maintained grass air strip that can accommodate small aircraft.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
This ranch is an opportunity for one wanting an investment either as an owner operator or a landlord. Current ranch management has been on the ranch in excess of 20 years and may be available to assist in the management of the ranch going forward. There is also a 1031 exchange opportunity.