Lordsburg, NM 88045(Grant County)

The ranch transitions from the rolling hills of the Gila River valley on its west side into the rugged Burro Mountains on its east side with a 4100 ft. elevation at headquarters and 6100 ft. elevations on its east side. It overlooks the Gila River Valley with beautiful views of the Burrow Mountains and the Redrock Basin. Road access is controlled by deeded land which limits public access to the ranch. The Forest Service allotment is bordered on its north side by the Gila River which is difficult to access due to steep bluffs. Drift fences are used to keep cattle away from the river in the few places where access is possible. Most of the ranch is accessible by numerous 4WD/UTV roads.

The ranch has a wide variety of vegetation to support both livestock and wildlife. Grasses include various gramma varieties, bush muhly, and curly and vine mesquite; browse includes mesquite, scrub oak, mahogany, apache plume, chamisa, white sage and cat claw.

Wildlife includes many mule deer, some Coues deer, mountain lion, black bear, coyotes, numerous small mammals and many bird species including large populations of gambel quail. An occasional elk wanders across the ranch.

The ranch has 5 main pastures with several traps. The fencing is in very good condition with a combination of wood and metal posts and 4 or 5 strands of barbed wire. A large set of well-built pipe corrals at headquarters has a scale, a permanent loading chute and a squeeze chute. Also located at headquarters is a 30x60 shop with concrete floor and a 32x40 hay barn. Numerous working corrals and branding pens are located throughout the ranch.

Water is supplied to the ranch by 6 wells varying in depth from 13 ft. to 365 ft. is are dispersed throughout the ranch (except for the forest) by over 20,000 ft. of pipeline to numerous storage tanks and drinkers. Most of the wells have windmills that are no longer used due to the installation of submersible electric pumps that have been installed. Two of the pumps are connected to electrical service and the others utilize solar panels. There are also a number of earthen dams (dirt tanks) plus permanent and intermediate springs. The only water assets on the Forest Service allotment are 3 earthen dams which makes the forest unusable during dry years. A needed improvement is to extend the ranch pipelines onto the forest with a storage tank and drinkers.

The owner reports that the normal carrying capacity of the ranch is 250 cows year round but has been reduced to 175 because of the current severe drought. The ability to use the forest during dry years would be very advantageous.

There are 2 year-around BLM allotments: #01513 includes 580 acres and is rated for 108 AUMs (animal unit months); #01022 includes 2820 acres and is rated for 584 AUMs. The Forest Service allotment (# 00730) is for 525 AUMs but must be rested every third year. The 2018 grazing fee for both BLM and Forest Service is $1.41 per AUM but is paid based upon actual use so no fee is paid to the Forest Service in years that the allotment is not used. The New Mexico State lease (GM 2688) cost for 2018 was $4,804 but is adjustable based upon the cattle market.

The ranch receives approximately 12 inches of annual rainfall with rains normally beginning in July and lasting into the fall. Drought insurance is available but currently not utilized. The annual premium would be $26,826 after a 51% Federal subsidy. An average annual indemnity of $51,704 would have been received over the last 10 years.

There is a very nice 1999 28x68 Palm Harbor modular home with an attached car porton the ranch. The home has a large kitchen with dining area, a very large living area with fireplace, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and an office. There is also a 16x60 mobile home with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths for guest or employee housing.

This scenic well-maintained ranch offers a very manageable cattle operation and a recreational paradise.