Water matters. When it comes to values of western Kansas farmland, irrigation vastly increases the prices land sells for at auction.

That was apparent in the sale of about 1,360 acres of Kansas land, part in Sherman and part in Cheyenne County, at a Nov. 14 auction. The land sold in six tracts, one irrigated and the others dry cropland and grass, with some enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.

Tract 1, the irrigated tract, was 320 acres, 220 under center pivots with 77 in dry cropland and 18 in farmstead and grass. The tract sold for $4,300 per acre.

Tracts 2 and 3, each about 160 acres, all in dry cropland, brought $1,475, while Tract 4, about 260 acres, 235 of it dry cropland and the balance in CRP, brought $1,350 per acre.

Tract 5, about 220 acres with 18 acres of tillable cropland, 88 in grassland and the remainder enrolled in CRP, brought $550 per acre. The final tract, about 240 acres, 226 in cropland and the remainder in CRP, brought $1,500 per acre.

The seller of the land was Q7 Farms LLC. Farm and Ranch Realty of Colby handled the sale.

Graham County
About 480 acres of cropland and grassland in Graham County were sold at auction on Nov. 28. The land sold in two tracts. Tract 1 was about 106 acres of dry cropland and tract 2 was 374 acres of grassland. The tracts sold together for $825 per acre. The seller was the B Bar B Ranch. Farm and Ranch Realty handled the sale.

Franklin County
About 315 acres of Graham County land was sold in a sealed bid sale that closed Sept. 29.

The property was offered in three tracts of fertile river bottom cropland with excellent hunting potential in old growth timber. The property is an easy drive from Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka or Emporia. Tract 1, about 76 acres is 62% tillable with level, fertile cropland and the remainder in high old-growth timber with lots of deer and turkey signs.

Tract 2, just over 106 acres, is river bottom ground with the Marais des Cygnes River winding through it. 71 acres are rich bottom ground and the surrounding land is along the river and full of old-growth timber. Tract 3, about 131 acres, includes 76 tillable acres and 11 acres in CRP with the balance in secluded, wooded ground overlooking the cropland with great views, open meadows, CRP ground and a hidden pond.

All three tracts were sold together and brought $2,500 per acre. The seller was not disclosed. William Gaughan handled the sale for Farmers National Company.

Decatur County
About 310 acres of cropland and grass were sold in a Nov. 8 auction in Decatur County. The property was sold in two tracts. Tract 1 was 76 acres mostly in cropland, while Tract 2 was 234 acres, 180 in cropland and the balance in grass. The tracts sold together for $1,100 per acre. The seller was the Marilyn R. Linn revocable trust. Farm and Ranch Realty of Colby handled the sale.

Rawlins County
About 225 acres of cropland in Rawlins County was sold in a Nov. 21 auction. The land was sold in two tracts, both dryland cropland. Tract 1 was 124 acres of cropland and 23 acres in grass, while tract 2 was 78 acres of cropland. The tracts sold separately and each brought $1,650 per acre. The seller was the Prochazka Trust. Farm and Ranch Realty handled the sale.

Wichita County
About 1,840 acres of Wichita County land was sold at auction on Nov. 20. The property was sold in seven tracts.

Tract 1, about 240 acres of dryland cropland sold for $1,820 per acre. Tract 2, about 160 acres of open dry cropland brought $1,860 per acre, while Tract 3, about 320 acres of dry cropland, brought $1,430 per acre.

Tract 4, about 320 acres of dry cropland planted to wheat, brought $1,200 per acre. Tract 5, about 160 acres of open dry cropland, brought $1,100 per acre. Tract 6, about 160 acres with 125 acres of cropland and the balance in grass, brought $780 per acre.

The final tract, about 480 acres of all dry cropland, sold for $1,200 per acre.

The seller was the Smith family. Carr Auction and Real Estate of Larned handled the sale.

Edwards County
About 160 acres of Edwards County land was sold at auction on Oct. 19. The entire dry cropland quarter-section was planted to wheat. The property brought $2,400 per acre. The seller was Gale E. Britton. Carr Auction and Real Estate handled the sale.

Barton County
About 160 acres of cropland, CRP and pastureland with a pond sold at auction on Nov. 28. The land included 106 acres of cultivated land, 53 acres of CRP and 44 acres of pasture brought $1,200 per acre. The seller was the Bieberle revocable trust. Carr Auction and Real Estate handled the sale.

Ness County
About 468 acres of Ness County land was sold in two tracts in an auction on Nov. 14. The sale was for surface rights only.

Tract 1, about 148 acres with 75 acres enrolled in CRP and the balance in cropland, brought $878 per acre. The other tract, about 320 acres with 218 acres of cropland and 102 acres in pasture, brought $1,047 per acre. The seller was C&C Blocksome and Blocksome Family revocable trust. Carr Auction and Real Estate handled the sale.

Stevens County
Three Stevens County farms were sold in separate private auction sales, all handled by Faulkner Real Estate and Auction of Ulysses.

One farm, about 80 acres of dry cropland, was sold on Aug. 18. It brought $500 per acre. The seller was Johnson.

Another farm, 160 acres of CRP with mineral rights, sold in July. The land brought $430 per acre and the minerals an additional $45,200. The seller was Evans.

The third sale, 80 acres of dry farmland, closed Oct. 17. The land brought $1,000 per acre. The seller was Kurth.

Morton County
About 160 acres of land enrolled in CRP was sold at private auction on Aug. 29. The land brought $465 per acre. The seller was Anderson/Niles. Faulkner handled the sale.

Haskell County
Mineral rights to about 84 acres of Haskell County land was sold in a private auction on Aug. 15. The rights sold for $20,000. The seller was Millyard. Faulkner handled the sale.

In another Haskell County sale, about 320 acres of irrigated farmland sold in a private auction. The property brought $2,000 per acre. Pike was the seller. Faulkner also handled that sale.

In a third Morton County sale, about 153 acres of dryland farmland were sold by private auction in October. The property sold for $840 per acre. The seller was Henson. Faulkner handled the sale.

Hamilton County
About 160 acres of dryland farmland in Hamilton County was sold at private auction in October. The property brought $870 per acre. The seller was Simmonds. Faulkner handled the sale.

Gray County
About 160 acres of irrigated farmland was sold in a private auction that closed Oct. 5. The property brought $4,875 per acre. The seller was Loucks. Faulkner Real Estate and Auction of Ulysses handled the sale.

Kearny County
About 298 acres of native grass pastureland was sold in a private auction in November. The property brought $250 per acre. The seller was Slafta/Smith. Faulkner handled the sale.