2025 irrigated crop land rental rate - Ask Extension
What is the cost range for irrigated crop land near Hermiston, Oregon? How has the rental cost changed in the last 5 years?
Knowledgebase
2025 irrigated crop land rental rate #917613
Asked September 15, 2025, 5:19 PM EDT
What is the cost range for irrigated crop land near Hermiston, Oregon? How has the rental cost changed in the last 5 years?
Umatilla County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for reaching out.
In the Hermiston, Oregon area, Umatilla County irrigated cropland rental rates have remained relatively stable over the past five years, with some regional variation. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/business-economics/finance/most-recent-cash-rental-rate-estimates-paint-mixed-portrait-oregon
- Average rental rate for irrigated cropland in Oregon: ~$259 per acre.
- Eastern Oregon counties, including Umatilla, tend to have lower-than-average rates, though exact figures vary by farm size, crop type, and water access.
- The five-year average for irrigated cropland in Oregon was $260 per acre, meaning the 2023 rate of $259 reflects virtually no change over that period.
- While some counties saw increases (e.g., Baker, Union), others—including parts of eastern Oregon—experienced declines in rental rates.
Dear Teagon,
I would request that you take a more Indepth look at my question regarding the average cost to lease irrigated farmland near Hermiston. The response (below) seems to be totally inconsistent with previous findings:
- "The five-year average for irrigated cropland in Oregon was $260 per acre, meaning the 2023 rate of $259 reflects virtually no change over that period."
Back in 2017, I was able to work with the then extension agent and established the following lease/rental cost for irrigated land growing various crops in 2010, 2016 and 2017:
| High cost | ||||
| Crop | 2010 | 2016 | Difference | 2017 |
| Potatoes | 700 | 750 | 7.1% | 850 |
| Wheat | 400 | 500 | 25.0% | 350 |
| Alfalfa | 400 | 550 | 37.5% | |
| Carrots | 550 | 800 | 45.5% | |
| Seed/field Corn | 450 | 550 | 22.2% | |
| Watermelons | 700 | 700 | 0.0% | |
| Ave High costs | $533 | $642 | 22.9% | |
| Average | ||||
| Crop | 2011 | 2016 | Difference | 2017 |
| Potatoes | 600 | 725 | 20.8% | 850 |
| Wheat | 325 | 450 | 38.5% | 350 |
| Alfalfa | 325 | 550 | 69.2% | 475 |
| Carrots | 525 | 775 | 47.6% | 850 |
| Seed/field Corn | 425 | 550 | 29.4% | 475 |
| Watermelons | 600 | 650 | 8.3% | 850 |
| 2800 | 3700 | 32.1% | ||
| Ave-ave costs | $467 | $617 | 35.6% | $642 |
I find it highly unlikely that the rental cost of irrigated farmland would fall by 66% for 2025 in the Hermiston area.
Would you mind taking another look at the rental/lease cost per acre in 2025 to grow the various crops?
Thank you
Bud Stratton
On Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 10:19:27 AM PDT, Ask Extension wrote:
Greeting Bud
Thank you for following up and sharing the lease data you had. You're absolutely right that the statewide average of $259 per acre for irrigated cropland, based on USDA Census data, doesn't reflect the variability seen in specific regions or crop types. Unfortunately, the data we currently have access to is limited in granularity and doesn't capture the kind of localized, crop-specific lease rates you’ve outlined.
The figures you shared from 2010 to 2017, particularly for high-value crops like potatoes, carrots, and seed corn, are indeed much higher than the statewide average. Your point about the Hermiston Extension office leasing land for around $700 per acre in 2017 is especially interesting.
I shared what I had access to as we do not have any faculty currently working on these crops in your county. I am hopeful there may be something more local for you, I just don't have access to it. Based on the data you have, please do reach out to the author of the report I shared to see what they can assist with:
Dan Bigelow - College of Ag Sciences Applied Economics
Daniel<personal data hidden>
Thank you for following up and sharing the lease data you had. You're absolutely right that the statewide average of $259 per acre for irrigated cropland, based on USDA Census data, doesn't reflect the variability seen in specific regions or crop types. Unfortunately, the data we currently have access to is limited in granularity and doesn't capture the kind of localized, crop-specific lease rates you’ve outlined.
The figures you shared from 2010 to 2017, particularly for high-value crops like potatoes, carrots, and seed corn, are indeed much higher than the statewide average. Your point about the Hermiston Extension office leasing land for around $700 per acre in 2017 is especially interesting.
I shared what I had access to as we do not have any faculty currently working on these crops in your county. I am hopeful there may be something more local for you, I just don't have access to it. Based on the data you have, please do reach out to the author of the report I shared to see what they can assist with:
Dan Bigelow - College of Ag Sciences Applied Economics
Daniel<personal data hidden>
Hi Dan,
Have you heard of the: "Department of Agriculture --Oregon Agricultural Statistics Directory"?
I found one dated 2021. (See Below--at very bottom of message). The address for the publication is on the second page. On page 20, the document provides the "Cash Rent Expense per Acre by County----Oregon: 2019 and 2020". The cost for Umatilla County then was:
2019----$384
2020----$427
This is a very useful document.
Would you mind checking to see if there is a more current document---or if one is in the works--- and if so, please tell me how I can obtain a copy?
Thank you for your assistance
Bud Stratton
On Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 12:08:05 PM PDT, Ask Extension wrote:
Greetings,
I am just circling back to see whether you reached out to Dan and if he responded? Here is his direct contact information:
Based on the data you have, please do reach out to the author of the report I shared to see what they can assist with:
Dan Bigelow - College of Ag Sciences Applied Economics
Daniel.<personal data hidden>
I am just circling back to see whether you reached out to Dan and if he responded? Here is his direct contact information:
Based on the data you have, please do reach out to the author of the report I shared to see what they can assist with:
Dan Bigelow - College of Ag Sciences Applied Economics
Daniel.<personal data hidden>
