Frequently Asked Questions

What types of farm operations are common in Oklahoma and what does Hortenstine Ranch Company list? 

Oklahoma farming spans a wide range from the winter wheat monoculture of the western plains to diversified livestock and grain operations in the central part of the state to timber farming and hay production in the east.

  • Western Oklahoma: Classic winter wheat country, with the Panhandle and the Enid-Woodward corridor producing significant wheat volumes in the Central Flyway’s most active wheat belt.
  • Central Oklahoma: Supports cow-calf and stocker operations on native grass with wheat pasture grazing as a winter supplement.
  • River Bottoms: Pecan production occurs in bottom land farms along the Canadian, Washita, and Arkansas rivers where deep alluvial soils and adequate rainfall support commercial orchards.
  • Eastern Oklahoma: Has hay, timber, and small-scale vegetable and direct-market operations suited to the higher rainfall environment.

Hortenstine Ranch Company farm listings in Oklahoma include dryland wheat and grain operations, native grass cattle ranches being offered as farms due to their tillable component, and specialty operations along river bottoms suited to hay and pecan production.

What is the price range for farmland in Oklahoma and how does it compare to Kansas and Texas? 

Oklahoma farmland prices are generally lower than Kansas and Iowa comparable ground but competitive with western Kansas and Texas Rolling Plains prices.

  • North-Central Winter Wheat: Ground in Garfield and Grant counties with strong yield histories of 35 to 45 bushels per acre dryland has traded in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 dollars per acre in recent years.
  • Central Cattle Range: Native grass cattle range prices from 1,200 to 2,800 dollars per acre depending on water development and pasture quality.
  • River Valley Alluvial Ground: Bottomland pecan and row crop ground in the Canadian River valley runs 2,500 to 5,000 dollars per acre for productive deep alluvial soils.
  • Regional Premium Comparisons: Kansas wheat ground of comparable quality typically trades at a premium of 10 to 25 percent above Oklahoma, reflecting the larger and more active Kansas farmland investment market. Texas Rolling Plains dryland grain ground is roughly comparable to western Oklahoma at similar soil quality levels.

These ranges are approximate and buyers should verify current transaction data with Hortenstine Ranch Company agents tracking Oklahoma farm sales.

What Oklahoma farm programs and conservation easements should buyers understand? 

  • USDA Farm Programs: Oklahoma farms enrolled in USDA farm programs including the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs receive annual program payments tied to base acres and covered commodity history that transfer with the farm at sale.
  • Income Evaluation: Understanding the farm’s base acre history, established yields, and current program enrollment is important for buyers evaluating farm income, since program payments on wheat and grain sorghum can add 20 to 50 dollars per base acre annually to farm revenue in price-support years.
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): The CRP enrolls Oklahoma cropland in 10 to 15 year contracts paying annual rental rates for converting environmentally sensitive land to native cover, and farms with active CRP contracts transfer those contracts with the ownership.
  • Conservation Easements: Held by land trusts, these restrict certain development uses in perpetuity and may reduce property value for buyers seeking development flexibility while providing income tax benefits to sellers who grant them.

Hortenstine Ranch Company advises buyers to request complete FSA farm records, including base acres, payment histories, and any conservation program enrollment, before making offers on Oklahoma farm properties.