Fritz:
I been to the auction sales. That land and other land is in grass and trees and has not been improved (that I have knowledge of). Yes there will be a fence and a source of water, maybe.
The bids go cheap even for pasture land compare to other pasture rent in the area. Usually the only one there is the previous renter.
Not many people have cows anymore so not a lot of bidders in my area. ($900 for a five lease every year on 80 acres).
I show up with the intend to qualify to rent too use for ag purpose but my real intend is for land to protect a herd of deer as it is prime deer country along side the grain farmers. I post with their signs (yes there are rules with that poster).
My buddy has cows, his goal is he is upset with his neighbor for shooting his dog and so no matter what he wants it, he owns land next to it, we put cows out there, fence,who know who owns, it's been there for years, water hole stays, and I work with him on it.
Yes welcome to the neighborhood (sweat equity I have not seen let alone some controlling of weeds however a little fence repairs now and then). And the local cow man is probably not getting as good of deal as the guy out west is getting grazing his cows on public land (until the government goes after their free rent).
Your story, knowing cowboys, yes, you do not mess with them, their cows, dog, horse, the multiple color pick-up (however they now have newer ones due to the recent cattle prices) or their wife who works in town at the ASC office however I do question what you have outline happening. Running cows is not like grain farming.
In the end, it is not worth the fight as the whole neighborhood is already fighting over the deer and like Clint Eastwood stated "I sure do not need to get in the middle of that". db-2
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Yes it takes monies to buy beer and real money if one drinks old mill. But I still have funds left for pasture rent. So why not, well as I stated I like to be able to drink with the local cow/calf man. db