States were generally allocated two sections of land out of each 36 sections (a township) for the purpose of generating income to support schools. These school sections have been treated differently by each state but are generally set aside to maximize income to the school trust. In states that have retained ownership of school sections suitable for grazing, each state has developed a somewhat different method of setting the grazing fee. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study in 2005 that reported the different grazing fees in the western states. These fee ranges or average fees are shown below.
| State | Fee Range ($/AUM) | Average Fee ($/AUM) | Fee Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 2.23 | Market-based appraisal with annual adjustment | |
| California | 1.35 to 12.50 | Market based on average rates | |
| Colorado | 6.65 to 8.91 | Market-based formula | |
| Idaho | 5.15 | Formula similar to federal fee | |
| Kansas | |||
| Montana | 5.48 to 80.00 | Market with minimum bid | |
| Nebraska | 16.00 to 28.00 | Market with minimum bid | |
| New Mexico | 0.71 to 10.15/acre | Market with minimum bid | |
| Nevada | |||
| North Dakota | 1.73 to 19.69/acre | Market with minimum bid | |
| Oklahoma | 7.00 to 16.00 | Market with minimum bid | |
| Oregon | 4.32 | Formula based on production factors | |
| South Dakota | 3.00 to 56.00/acre | Market with minimum bid | |
| Texas | 4.16 to 12.50 | Market-based appraisal | |
| Utah | 1.43 or 2.35 | Formula similar to federal fee | |
| Washington | 5.41 or 7.76 | Market-based formula or formula based on production factors | |
| Wyoming | 4.13 | Market-based formula |
Source: Government Accountability Office. 2005. Livestock Grazing - Federal Expenditures and Receipts Vary, Depending on the Agency and the Purpose of the Fee Charged. GAO-05-869. 110 p.