Leasing State Trust Lands for Agriculture and Grazing
   

Revenue from the 1.1 million acres of state trust lands that DNR leases for agriculture and grazing helps fund public school construction across Washington state. We work with lessees to assure that the lands are productive and sustainably managed while public resources such as water, fish, and wildlife are protected.
 
Find upcoming leases using DNR's Lease Opportunity Viewer. Parcels where an agricultural or grazing lease with be available are indicated by diamonds on this interactive map.

How to Obtain an Agriculture Lease from DNR

Participate in a public auction: See Public Auctions below
 
Place a bonus bid on a current lease that is marked “Open for Lease Application.” Use the Interactive Lease Opportunity Viewer to find parcels that DNR intends to negotiate. If the existing lessee does not match the highest bid (or negotiations fail), the lease will be put up for public auction. By state law, the highest bonus bid establishes the minimum bid for public auction (WAC 332-22-100). Download a Bonus Bid Application.
 
Request a new lease: Locate a parcel of DNR-managed trust land that is currently unleased, and apply to DNR for lease consideration. If there is legal access to the parcel, the proposed activity can be permitted and leasing the parcel is in the best interest of the State Trust, DNR will consider a public lease auction. Contact Sherry Land at 360-902-1620 or Rebecca McAferty at
360-902-1726 for a new lease application.
 
DNR's Lease Opportunity Viewer
 
Click on image to use the viewer:
 
Lease Opportunity Viewer
 
Using the map:
 
Zoom-in to locations you are interested in leasing. Click on a diamond shape to see the type of availability and associated documents:
  • Leases offered for public auction will show as “Offered at Public Auction,” with the auction date.
  • Leases available for bonus bid application prior to re-negotiation with the existing lessee will show as “Open for Lease Application,” with the dates we can accept bonus bid applications.
  • Use the ‘More Info Link” to see information about leases to be "Offered at Public Auction" or "Open for Lease Application."
The Basic User Guide and Detailed User Guide will help you to use the Interactive Map Viewing Tool.
 
Download the Mobile App for your smartphone or tablet.

Public Auctions

 
Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A74405 — November 15, 2018
Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A74405 is a ten-year lease offered at sealed bid public auction for 70-acres irrigated agriculture acres in Cowlitz County. Sealed bids must be received no later than November 15, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., at which time they will be opened at DNR's Pacific Cascade Office, 601 Bond Road, Castle Rock, WA 98611. All relevant documents are posted below. For more information contact Shannon Soto at 360-902-1437.
Dryland Agriculture and Grazing Lease No. 12-F55351 — December 4, 2018
Dryland Agriculture and Grazing Lease No. 12-F55351 is a nine-year eight-month lease offered at sealed bid public auction. Bidders may propose to develop from 137 to 230 acres to dryland agricultural crops, with remaining undeveloped acreage authorized for grazing. The lease is located in Klickitat County. Sealed bids must be received no later than December 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., at which time they will be opened at DNR’s Southeast Region Office, 713 Bowers Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926. All relevant documents are posted below. For more information contact Rochelle Wickwire at 509-899-7915.
Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-097794 — December 4, 2018
Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-097794 is a nine-year six-month lease offered at sealed bid public auction. Bidders may propose to develop from 200 to 233.7 acres to irrigated agriculture. The lease is located in Grant County. Sealed bids must be received no later than December 4, 2018 at 2:30 p.m., at which time they will be opened at DNR’s Southeast Region Office, 713 Bowers Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926. All relevant documents are posted below. For more information, contact Chad Unland at 509-925-0935.
Lease Auction Results
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-E68703 went to public auction on August 16, 2018. Successful bidder was Martin's Farming, Inc.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A82213 went to public auction on August 16, 2018. Successful bidder was Brian Drouhard dba Bluewater Farm.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-D54116 went to public auction on August 16, 2018. Successful bidder was Steve Hoffmann dba CH Cattle.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-095036 went to public auction on July 9, 2018. Successful bidder was Frank Tiegs, LLC.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-095281 went to public auction on July 9, 2018. No bids were received.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-C56285 went to public auction on July 9, 2018. Successful bidder was Robert Mielke.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-096784 went to public auction on May 29, 2018. Successful bidder was Keith Ringer.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-095281 went to public auction on December 13, 2017. No bids were received.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-095280 went to public auction on December 13, 2017. Successful bidders were Tom & Kim Hendrickson.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A81331 went to public auction on July 25, 2017. Successful bidder was Greenridge Farming, Inc.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-E60282 went to public auction on July 25, 2017. Successful bidder was Himark Farms, Inc.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-090996 went to public auction on July 18, 2017. Successful bidder was Robert E. & Barbara Ayers.
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-090998 went to public auction on July 18, 2017. Successful bidder was Greg & Michelle Saltsman.
  • Dryland Agriculture Lease No. 12-095090 went to public auction on June 29, 2017. Successful bidder was Century Farms LLC
  • Dryland Agriculture Lease No. 12-095091 went to public auction on June 29, 2017. Successful bidder was Century Farms LLC
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-094039 went to public auction on June 26, 2017. Successful bidder was Aubert Land & Livestock LLC
  • Grazing Lease No. 10-093563 went to public auction on June 26, 2017. Successful bidder was Schneider Farms Inc.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-095036 went to public auction on April 6, 2017. No qualified bids were received.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A79766 went to public auction on April 11, 2017. Successful bidder was JB Farms LLC.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A79611 went to public auction on April 11, 2017. Successful bidder was Frank Tiegs LLC.
  • Irrigated Agriculture Lease No. 12-A79612 went to public auction on April 11, 2017. Successful bidder was Brian Drouhard dba Bluewater Farm.