Magonz - I live in NE Nebraska and have to completely agree with Denver, the hardest part of expansion is finding grass. When you do, landowners are typically in the driver's seat with multiple offers, most ending in a quasi-lease auction. My advice is to put a pencil to it, figure what you can afford to pay, and stick to your budget.
I have one lease at $150 for the five month grazing season. I take care of the fence, herbicide, and fertilizer on this property (retired bachelor who appreciates the company and occassional bottle of hooch).
We recently rented a small irrigated patch (25 pair) for $1.50 per pair per day.
I was at a couple sales out in Ericson last spring and the 'word on the street' was several tracts leasing for $400 per pair (May - Oct). They just had a lease auction (conducted by a realtor) in Creighton and it went for $600. There are some big time grain farmers who have piles of silage from dryland drought corn, plenty of cash to burn and need a place for the cows they bought driving up prices...makes it tough.
