Grazing Lease Agreement Template

This Grazing Lease Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of [Effective Date], by and between:

Landowner: [Full Legal Name], of [Address]

and

Tenant / Livestock Owner: [Full Legal Name], of [Address]

Together, the parties are referred to as the “Parties.”

1. Leased Pasture Property

Landowner leases to Tenant the right to use the following property for grazing purposes:

Property Address or Farm Name: [Property Name or Address]
County and State: [County, State]

Legal description or pasture description:

[Describe the pasture, tract, field, fenced area, acreage, or attached exhibit]

Approximate number of acres: [Number]

Any map, aerial image, or exhibit describing the pasture area:

☐ Attached as Exhibit A
☐ Not attached

2. Lease Term

The grazing term begins on [Start Date] and ends on [End Date], unless earlier terminated according to this Agreement.

Turn-in date for livestock: [Date]
Removal date for livestock: [Date]

If weather, forage, drought, flooding, fire, or similar conditions affect use of the pasture, the Parties will handle the situation as follows:

[Describe adjustment, temporary removal, early termination, or rent change terms]

3. Permitted Livestock

Tenant may place only the following livestock on the pasture:

☐ Cow-calf pairs
☐ Stocker cattle
☐ Yearlings
☐ Sheep
☐ Goats
☐ Horses
☐ Other: [Describe]

Approved number, class, breed, sex, age, or weight range of livestock:

[Insert details]

Tenant may not place additional or substitute livestock on the pasture without Landowner’s prior approval.

4. Stocking and Grazing Limits

Tenant agrees to stock and manage livestock at a reasonable level for the pasture and forage conditions.

The agreed stocking limit is:

[Number of head / animal units / other standard]

Additional grazing limits or management terms:

[Describe rotational grazing, restricted areas, rest periods, supplemental pasture, or forage-use rules]

If forage conditions become inadequate, the Parties will do the following:

[Describe destocking, temporary removal, feed supplementation, or other response]

5. Rent and Payment Terms

Tenant agrees to pay rent as follows:

☐ $[Amount] per acre
☐ $[Amount] per head per [month / season / other]
☐ Flat total rent of $[Amount]
☐ Other formula: [Describe]

Payment schedule:

$[Amount] due on [Date]
$[Amount] due on [Date]
$[Amount] due on [Date]

Late payment terms, if any:

[Describe interest, late fee, or other consequence]

6. Water, Fences, and Facilities

The Parties agree that responsibility for pasture facilities will be divided as follows:

Water supply supervision: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Fence inspection: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Fence repair labor: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Fence repair materials: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Water system repair labor: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Water system repair materials: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]

Additional facilities or improvements covered by this Agreement:

[Loading area, corrals, gates, tanks, shade, mineral feeders, barns, or other items]

7. Livestock Care and Operations

Tenant is responsible for the day-to-day care, control, and management of the livestock unless otherwise stated here:

[Describe any shared duties]

Tenant agrees to:

• check livestock at reasonable intervals;

• keep only livestock that are suitable for the pasture;

• promptly address sick, injured, or stray animals;

• comply with animal health requirements stated in this Agreement; and

• remove animals that repeatedly damage fences or create unreasonable risk.

Health papers, vaccination requirements, or other livestock entry conditions:

[Describe or write “None”]

8. Feed, Salt, Mineral, and Veterinary Care

Responsibility for the following items shall be as follows:

Salt and mineral: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Supplemental feed: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Fly control: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Veterinary calls in emergency: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]
Veterinary expenses: [Landowner / Tenant / Shared]

Additional animal care terms:

[Insert details]

9. Maintenance and Pasture Protection

Tenant shall use the pasture in a careful manner and shall not knowingly overgraze, waste forage, damage improvements, or allow misuse of the property.

Tenant shall not:

• cut timber or remove materials without permission;

• use the property for purposes outside this Agreement;

• assign this Agreement without written consent; or

• make major alterations to the land, water systems, or structures without approval.

Landowner shall maintain the property as follows:

[Describe mowing, brush control, weed treatment, fertilization, or other landowner duties]

10. Entry and Access

Landowner may enter the property at reasonable times for inspection, maintenance, repair, showing the property, or emergency purposes, provided such entry does not unreasonably interfere with Tenant’s permitted grazing use.

Access routes, gates, and vehicle restrictions:

[Describe]

11. Loss, Injury, and Liability

Tenant assumes responsibility for livestock losses, illness, injury, or death occurring during the lease term, except to the extent caused by Landowner’s wrongful act or breach of this Agreement.

Landowner does not guarantee the safety of the pasture, fences, water, or livestock conditions beyond the obligations expressly stated in this Agreement.

Any insurance requirement is as follows:

[Describe liability insurance or write “None”]

12. Default and Early Termination

A material breach of this Agreement includes:

• failure to pay rent when due;

• unauthorized livestock use;

• serious overstocking or misuse of pasture;

• failure to maintain agreed livestock-control duties; or

• failure to cure another material violation after notice.

Cure period after written notice: [Number] days

If this Agreement ends early, the Parties will handle removal of livestock, unpaid rent, and any property damage as follows:

[Describe]

13. Notices

Any notice required under this Agreement must be in writing and sent to the following:

For Landowner:
Name: [Name]
Address: [Address]
Email: [Email Address]

For Tenant:
Name: [Name]
Address: [Address]
Email: [Email Address]

Notice shall be effective upon:

☐ Personal delivery
☐ Confirmed email delivery
☐ Certified mail
☐ Recognized courier
☐ Other: [Describe]

14. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of [State/Country], except to the extent mandatory agricultural, landlord-tenant, or property law applies.

15. Entire Agreement

This Agreement contains the complete understanding between the Parties regarding grazing use of the property and supersedes prior oral and written discussions on that subject.

Any amendment to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both Parties.

16. Signatures

Landowner:

Signature: __________________________
Name: [Full Legal Name]
Date: [Date]

Tenant / Livestock Owner:

Signature: __________________________
Name: [Full Legal Name]
Date: [Date]

17. Optional Witness or Notary

Witness / Notary, if desired:

Signature: __________________________
Name: [Name]
Title: [Witness / Notary / Other]
Date: [Date]