Some high-end cropland and grassland in central and western South Dakota sold at auction this spring. One section of grass was so good that the auctioneer advertised it as "the gift to the cowman."

Hand County, S.D., cropland sells for $3,200 per acre
About 160 acres in Hand County, S.D., sold for $3,200 per acre in a public auction in April. The land has a soil productivity index of 73.6 and average soil rating of .753. About 144 acres are considered cropland, with the balance in a grassed creek bottom. — Auction conducted and managed by Lutter and Associates, Redfield, S.D. Phone 605-472-2650. lutterauction.com.

"High-end" central S.D. cropland tops $6,500 per acre
Nearly 510 acres near Frankfort in Spink County, S.D., sold for $6,507 per acre in an auction in May. The sale bill described the property as "high-end cropland," with a soil rating as high as 95%. There was about 80 acres of grass, some of which could be converted to cropland. Timber Creek ran through part of the farm, providing excellent habitat for pheasants and other wildlife, according to the sale bill. — Auction managed and conducted by Advantage Land Co., Brookings, S.D. Phone: 605-652-2525. advantagelandco.com.

Potter County, S.D., tract farmed corner to corner brings $3,000 per acre
A 157-acre tract of land in Potter County, S.D., "farmed from corner to corner with a nice roll to it," sold in a sealed bid auction for approximately $3,000 per acre in April. The land has a soil productivity rating of 81. — Auction managed and conducted by AgVisors LLC, Redfield, S.D., Phone 605-475-2015. agvisorsllc.com.

Land called 'gift to the cowman'
"Good water and fair fences" is how the sale bill described 640 acres of grass in Miner County, S.D., that sold old for $3,300 per acre at auction in May. "This is what every cattleman dreams of — an opportunity to own a full section of grass, with good water, not far from town … a gift to the cowman," the auctioneer’s note reads. "Although this section is all in grass, most of this land — if desired — could be converted to cropland acres and farmed." — Hansen Land and Auction Co., Salem, S.D. Phone: 605-360-2608. hansenauction.com.

3,730 acres of western S.D. hardgrass brings $525-$750 per acre
3,730 acres of choice grazing land with hardgrass, gathering corrals, pipelines and stock dams in Fall River County, S.D., sold in two tracts — an 832 parcel for $750 per acre and a 2,898-acre spread for $525 per acre. The land was leased out for the 2018 grazing season, which had a negative impact of approximately $75-$100 an acre on the sale price, says Martin Jurisch, of Martin Jurisch & Associates. "With the last two years of drought, many producers need immediate grass," Jurisch says. "Further, the low rent rate of $7.50 per acre did not help. The deceased owner was leasing to his nephew ... [The land] certainly could have sold better than it did in my estimation, although the family members were pleased with the results." — Auction managed and conducted by Martin Jurisch & Associates Realtors Auctioneers, Rapid City, S.D. Phone: 605-348-5261. martinjurisch.com.