Get reliable rangeland science

A telephone survey was conducted in the winter and spring of 2011-12 to determine private grazing lease arrangements in Idaho. A random sample of lessees and lessors of private forage was drawn from a client list provided by the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission that included 4,365 potential graziers. Telephone contact information was gathered and the list refined to indicate 2,159 potential respondents. Postcards were mailed to potential respondents prior to phone calls. Data were collected using Wincati telephone interviewing software, with trained interviewers administering the survey. A total of 373 respondents were determined to be eligible and agreed to participate. Final response rate was 32.7%. Goals of the research were to determine lease rates and payment methods, landlord services provided with the lease and their impact on lease rate, basic leasing arrangements (written vs. oral; length of lease; forage type; water sources; and others). Data were summarized in terms of frequency of occurance. Hedonic modeling techniques were used to value landlord services, regional differences, forage type and livestock class. Results indicate a high degree of variability in leasing arrangements, but were generally unsophisticated leasing arrangements (verbal, season-long, annual leases). The statewide average lease rate was $16.04/AUM, which was not statistically different from USDA estimates. Daily care/management of livestock by the landlord increased rates by $2.21/AUM. Two regions exhibited higher lease rates (Payette $1.87 and Eastern $1.43) and yearling cattle showed increased rates (+$3.53) and sheep leases showed reduced rates (-$2.59). Irrigated land as part of the lease also resulted in increased rates (+$0.02 for each % of irrigated land).