19395 288th Ave 1, Pierre, SD 57501

JES Farms, located just north of Pierre, South Dakota, in Hughes and Sully Counties, stands as one of the premier large-scale irrigated agricultural operations in the Midwest. The farm is operated as a family operation.  This expansive, privately owned farm spans approximately 16,398.7 +/- acres per county tax records.  The farm feature highly productive silty loam soils ideally suited for high-yield row crop production. 

Prime Irrigation and Productivity

At the heart of JES Farms lies an advanced irrigation system drawing from the Missouri River. It includes 84  Valley center pivots (with 13 corner systems), a 13-mile gravity-fed canal system with a 125-foot elevation drop for efficient low-pressure delivery, and extensive underground piping. This setup supports roughly 12,458 irrigated acres delivering reliable water even in South Dakota’s variable climate (average rainfall ~19 inches). The farms also has 2,333 dryland cropland acres. The farm boasts strong productivity ratings, with top soil classes averaging 93% and an overall average around 84%. FSA data highlights substantial contract bases for corn, wheat, and soybeans.  JES Farms also leases 175 acres and that leasehold interest could possibly be assigned to Buyer.

The permit to pump water from the Missouri River was issued by the State Legislature of South Dakota.  The permit is for 55,000 acres feet of irrigation water.  In 2017, over 250 miles of drainage tile was installed for 18 pivots.  The 13 pivots system corner units were also installed in 2017.