Fort Sumner, NM 88119(Debaca County)

TERRAIN AND VEGATATION: The McRee Ranch is mostly composed of good sand country with native grass species such as blue and black grama, side oats grama, buffalograss, sand dropseed, little bluestem and tabosa grass. This area is known as some of the best cow country in the southwest. The northernmost part of the ranch contains some deep sand next to shallow juniper-covered draws that provide good protection for livestock in the winter. The sand country grows an abundance of the native grama species along with several coarser grasses. Part of the sandier country has a considerable amount of yucca, or bear grass, scattered throughout. The owner really likes the yucca blooms and buds for what they do for the body condition on his cows in the spring coming out of winter.

Most of the McRee Ranch is flat to gently rolling; however, the southwest portion of the ranch, approximately 800 acres, is made up of clay-based arroyos with rock outcroppings and limited grass. The owner stocks this area of the ranch much lighter than the rest of the property. This is also the area where a neighbor owns 80 acres that jut into the McRee Ranch. The neighbor has never fenced it into his property because of the rough terrain along the boundary between the 2 ranches.

LIVESTOCK OPERATION: Unlike so many ranches in the area, the McRee Ranch is blessed with an abundance of good, strong water wells supplying good tasting water. Seven windmills that vary in depth from 42 to 330 water the 8 pastures and 2 traps on the ranch. According to the owner, several windmills have pumped well over 10 GPM when pumped with pump jacks or electric pumps. A strong submersible well at the headquarters is piped to the house and 3 livestock drinkers in the area. Most of the wells pump into large, steel-rimmed drinkers with concrete aprons and overflow ponds.

Like most of the Gerhardt Valley, the McRee Ranch has been a cow/calf outfit selling big calves most years; however, the ranch, which is normally stocked with around 175 cows and calves, has been destocked in 2013 due to drought. A yearling operator could expect to run 450 to 500 stocker cattle for 6 to 7 months, in a normal year. Most would lightly supplement yearling cattle with a protein cube during their time on the ranch.

A good set of metal corrals with a working ally, squeeze chute and livestock scales is located just north of the headquarters, which is situated on the east side of highway 84. A large and sturdy metal hay barn sits close to the corrals. Fences are mostly 5 strands of barbed wire on T-posts or cedar posts. Fences are generally in good to excellent in condition, but in the sandier areas some of the boundary fences need work.

RANCH HOME: A nice brick home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a metal roof is situated approximately mile east of US 84, on the south end of the ranch. The home is approximately 35 years old.

WILDLIFE: Pronghorn Antelope live on the ranch and throughout the area, as do blue quail. Mule deer are seen at times in the rougher country on the ranch.

MINERALS: The owners believe they have a substantial mineral ownership in the property and will convey 1/2 of any minerals they own to a buyer without warranty as to the number of minerals acres being conveyed.

TOWER INCOME: A transmission tower owned by American Tower Company is located on the McRee Ranch. According to the owner, the tower lease payment for 2013 is $1,000, the 2014 payment is $1200 and 2015 is $1500, then, the lease payment stays at $1500 until 2020, when the payment goes to $2,000. The owner reports that the lease may be renegotiated in 2025.

TAXES & FEES: De Baca County real estate taxes for last year were $761.11. The state grazing lease rental fee from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 is $577.90. The annual lease on the 120 acres of Bureau of Reclamation land is $40.

PRICE: $1,882,500

BROKERS COMMENTS: The McRee Ranch is a reputation cow/calf operation in the Fort Sumner area, located in strong country that is known for producing big calves in the fall. Good production ranches like the McRee outfit rarely come on the market, as evidenced by the fact that the ranch has been in the McRee family for over 100 years. Eastern New Mexico has been hit hard by the recent drought; but good production ranches as selling strong, and buyers realize there are very few good ranches on the market at any time. We hope you will take the opportunity to look at this quality ranching operation known as the McRee Ranch.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Kern Off. # 575-762-3707

Cell # 575-760-0161

Nick Cortese Off.# 575-355-2855

Cell# 575-760-3818

This ranch is offered in cooperation with Fallon-Cortese Land of Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Kern Land, Inc. and Fallon-Cortese Land are transaction brokers for the seller of this property. As the sellers transaction brokers, we represent the seller, and we are paid by the seller. This property is offered subject to prior sale, change in price, or removal from the market without notice. All information presented here, while based upon information supplied by the seller and from other sources deemed reliable, is not in any way warranted by the transaction brokers.