The price difference between irrigated farmland and good quality dryland or pasture have widened. Perhaps no recent sale illustrates that better than an auction in Republic County, Kan., and Thayer County, Neb.

The property was sold in five tracts, one of which is irrigated. That tract, about 156.5 acres of cropland included a well and pipe owned by the seller with a pivot and motor owned by the tenant. The water right allocation is 170 acre feet at 775 gallons per minute.  The tract sold for a whopping $7,300 per acre.

Tract 2, also in Republic County was 148 acres of cropland with 6.04 acres in roads and waterways. It brought $2,850 at auction. The final Kansas tract, about 78 acres divided into 26.25 acres of cropland, 1.26 acres of hayland and 39.77 acres of pasture. That tract brought $2,300 per acre.

Across the border in Thayer County, Neb., Tract 4, about 160 acres with 134 acres in cropland and 23 acres in hayland with the balance in roadways, sold for $3,000 per acre. Tract 5, about 161 acres with 110 in cropland, 6 in hayland with the balance in pasture, also brought $3,000 per acre.

The seller on the property was the Kern Family Partnership. Farmers National Company handed the sale.

Reno County
An excellent producing irrigated farm with Class II soils and located close to Hutchinson terminal markets, was sold at auction in a February sale that closed in March.

The single tract of 157 acres sold for $4,603 per acre. The seller was the Estate of Naomi G. Pontius, Vicki L. Denton and Charles W. Pontius, co-personal representatives. Farmers National handled the sale.

Haskell County
About 240 acres of highly productive, irrigated land with producing minerals in a private auction on Feb. 21. The farm is divided into 19 acres of dryland wheat, 125 acres of soybean stubble, 19 acres of milo stubble and 76 acres of wheat stubble.

Two irrigation wells are authorized but only one is currently in use. Irrigation pumps, gear drives, water meters and cooling coils are included by the center pivot, and irrigation motors are not included.

The property sold for $2,242 per acre. The seller was the estate of Naomi G. Pontius. Farmers National Co. handled the sale.

Decatur County
About 160 acres of dry cropland described as “great cropland” was sold at auction April 26. The quarter section brought $2,100 per acre. The seller was the Flament Family Trust. Farm and Ranch Realty handled the sale.

Gray County
About 160 acres of cropland was sold at action on Feb. 21. It brought $1,900 per acre. The quarter is served by one irrigation well that pumps about 150 gallons per minute. The seller was the estate of Naomi G. Pontius. Farmers National Co. handled the sale.

Marion County
About 160 acres of Marion County cropland was sold in a private treaty sale handled by Farmers National Co., The land brought $2,900 per acre. The seller was not disclosed.

McPherson County
About 40 acres of cropland in McPherson County brought $3,100 per acre in a private treaty sale. Farmers National handled the sale. The seller was not disclosed.

Stafford County
About 80 acres of cropland planted to wheat was sold at auction April 23. The property sold for $1,400 per acre. The sellers were Nancy Lou Copeland Halbgewachs and Ronald Halbgewachs. Carr Auction and Real Estate handled the sale.

Rice County
About 320 acres of Rice County farmland was sold at auction May 1. The property sold in three tracts. Tract 1, about 80 acres, most of it currently planted to wheat, sold for $1,450 per acre.

Tract 2, about 80 acres with 70 acres planted to wheat and the balance in non-cropland. The tract sold for $2,160 per acre.

Tract 3, about 160 acres, about 60 acres of dry cropland, 62 acres of pasture with trees and a creek as well as pond. The balance of the land is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. That tract sold for $1,125 per acre.

The seller was Jennifer L. Peters. Carr Auction and Real Estate of Larned handled the sale.

Thomas and Sheridan Counties
About 360 acres of cropland and grass in Thomas and Sheridan Counties were sold at public auction on April 20.

The property was sold in three tracts, two in Sheridan County and one in Thomas County,

Of the Thomas County tract, about 40 acres was planted to wheat and brought $2,150 per acre.

Tract 1, about 160 acres, 102 planted to wheat and 58 in grass, brought $1,325 per acre, while tract 2, also 160 acres with 76 acres planted to wheat and the balance in grass and roadways, was bid in at $1,375. The seller was Fellhoelter Farms LLC. Farm and Ranch Realty of Colby handled the sale.

Ness County
About 480 acres of cropland and grass in Ness County was sold at auction April 10. The property was sold in two tracts.

Tract 1, about 320 acres, with 200 in cropland and the balance in grassland, brought $925 per acre. Tract 2, about 160 acres with 98 acres of cropland and the balance in grass, brought $975 per acre. The sellers of Tract 1 were Dyland and Sarah Linenberger. The sellers of Tract 2 were Jerry and Joye Hanzlick. Farm and Ranch Realty handled the auction.

Baca County, Colo.
Ten tracts of above-average farmland, some with irrigation, some in grass and some dryland cropland were sold at public auction April 24.

Tract 1, about 450 acres of cropland with three irrigation wells, brought $1,325 per acre. Tract 2, about 150 acres of dry cropland planted to wheat, brought $550 per acre, while tract 3, about 630 acres with 66 in cropland and the balance in pasture, brought $425 per acre.

Tract 4, another irrigated parcel of 320 acres with 195 acres planted to wheat, was bid in at $1,525 per acre. Tracts 5 and 7 were combined. Tract 5, 160 acres with 46 planted to wheat has one pivot. Tract 7 was about 160 acres of dryland crop ground planted to wheat. The tracts brought $1,025 per acre.

Tract 6, about 260 dryland acres, brought $775 per acre, while tract 8, about 460 dryland acres planted to wheat, sold for $475 per acre.

Tract 9, about 440 acres of dry cropland, brought $650, and the final tract, about 325 acres of dryland planted to wheat, sold for $475 per acre.

The sellers were Fred and Kay Lynn Hefley. Farm and Ranch Realty of Colby handled the sale.