Cropland ready to farm in 2020, high-quality native grass pasture and one of the largest ranches in the Northern Great Plains were sold at auctions in December 2019.

Prices ranged from $7,200 per acre for cropland in eastern South Dakota that was ready to farm for 2020 to $481 per acre for hard grass native rangeland in western South Dakota.

Meade, Butte counties

A ranch comprised of 28,693 deeded acres and 3,297 leased acres in Meade and Butte counties of South Dakota sold for an average of $481 per acre (including the 1% buyer’s premium) at an auction in December.

Billed as one of the largest ranch holdings in the Northern Great Plains, the Spear S Ranch is a 1,500-animal unit operation. It has three separate ranch headquarters, two deep water wells, 5 miles of live water, 10 miles of seasonable creeks, 8 miles of well-maintain gravel roads, and nearly 50 pastures, many with sheep right fences.

More than 200 people attended the auction. There were 50 registered bidders. — Auction managed and conducted by Hewitt Land Co., Piedmont, S.D., 605-791-2300, and Pierre, S.D., 605-494-0205. hewittlandcompany.com.

Lincoln County, S.D.

Approximately 470 acres of cropland and pasture in Lincoln County, S.D., sold in five tracts for $4,000 to $7,200 per acre at an auction in December. All the tracts were available to the new owner to farm in 2020 and are close to ethanol plants and grain elevators, according to the sale bill. The tracts have several housing eligibilities. Soil productivity ratings range from 60 to 80. — Auction managed and conducted by Westra Atkins Land and Auction, Beresford, S.D., 605-310-6941. westraatkins.com.

Lake County, S.D.

About 157 acres of cropland in Lake County, S.D., that is ready for spring planting sold for $5,350 per acre at an auction in December. The land has a rye cover crop on it and an application of 25-35-0 fertilizer. The soil rating is .686 and the land is close the Dakota Ethanol plant and other local grain markets, according to the sale bill. — Auction managed and conducted by Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker, Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-336-6315. suttonauction.com.

Hyde County, S.D.

Approximately 1,100 acres of land billed as “quality grassland and cropland” in Hyde County, S.D., sold for $2,021 per acre at an auction in December. — Auction conducted and managed by United Country Real Estate/Advantage Land Co., Brookings, S.D., 605-692-2525. advantagelandco.com.

Roberts County, S.D.

Approximately 279 acres of native grass pasture in Roberts County, S.D., sold at an auction in December for $2,000 per acre. The land is cross fenced to accommodate a rotation grazing program, according to the sale bill. Forty acres of leased Bureau of Indian Affairs land is adjacent to it, creating a 319-acre grazing unit. — Auction managed and conducted by Sutton, Sioux Falls, S.D., 605-336-6315, suttonauction.com; and Burlage Peterson Auctioneers and Realtors, Brookings, S.D., 605-692-7102. burlagepeterson.com.