191.06± ACRES Irish Mountain Orchard and CRP/Hunting & Recreation
Elysian Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota
PRIVATE TREATY SALE
Parcel 1: $583,685
Parcel 2: $657,174
Overall: $1,240,860
Owner: Dwain Merickel Family
Agent Contact: Chuck Wingert
Phone: 507.381.9790
Email: charles@wingertlandservices.com
Agent Contact: Geoff Mead
Phone: 507.317.6266
Email: geoff@wingertlandservices.com
Chuck Wingert
ALC, Licensed Broker
- Irish Mountain Orchard History
- Total Property Information - 191.06 Acres
- Property Information - Parcel 1
- Property Information - Parcel 2
- Maps & Data
Dr. Dwain Merickel first planted apple trees in 1970 at his family’s farm in the southern Minnesota hill country. Dr. Merickel was a dentist in Mankato who grew up on a farm near Mapleton, and he never lost that farm boy interest in watching things grow. He chose apples, and over the years, his orchard grew into a retirement project with a few hundred trees, and then into a business in the 1990’s. Grandsons in the area grew up helping and learning from Dwain, and the oldest grandson has been managing the orchard for the last several years. Irish Mountain Orchard now is about 30 acres and thousands of trees and transitioned to a u-pick orchard in 2022. They also have about 120 pear trees, and the pears have been a huge success. Varieties are Nova and Parker, and people absolutely love them. They also sell pre-bagged apples and pears at the farm stand in the orchard for those who don’t want to pick their own. Families are the Orchard’s biggest supporters, and many stop out with their kids. It’s fun to watch the kids have the experience of picking their own fruit and eating it straight from the tree. Most of them are thrilled and come back chewing on apples with big smiles on their faces. They also really enjoy the space to run around and the photo ops; climbing on straw bales is one of their favorites. Many parents have commented on what a neat experience this is for the kids and return year after year; many of those kids are now enjoying the orchard with their own children.
Original apple varieties planted included Fireside/Connel Red, Regent, Haralson, and Sweet 16, with Haralson still grown today. When Honeycrisp apples were released from the University of Minnesota in 1991, this was one of the first orchards in Minnesota to plant them. Since the first few trees began to bear fruit, Irish Mountain Orchard’s commitment to Honeycrisp has grown to include thousands of trees, and customers love them!
Zestar! trees were planted on a large scale during the 2000’s, and along with Honeycrisp, served as the primary apple in the orchard expansion project. Many people who love Honeycrisp, but want apples sooner in the season, choose Zestar for their apple fix in late summer. Chestnut crabapples are also becoming a favorite; they were originally planted as pollinators but are prized now for their sweet flavor and perfect size for snacking.
DESCRIPTION:
NE 1/4 exc. 4-acre bldg. site tract and 4.83-acre building site tract in NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 Section 18 T109N-R24W 191.06 acres (Elysian Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota)
TAX ID #:
04.018.2500
REAL ESTATE TAXES:
2024 Homestead Taxes – $6,852.00
Special Assessments – $18.00
Total Estimated Tax & Specials – $6,870.00
2025 estimated taxes are not yet available.
FSA INFORMATION:
Total Acres – 191.06± acres
FSA Tillable (includes CRP) – 160.71± acres
Corn Base Acres – 58.94 ± acres
Corn PLC Yield – 115± bushels
Soybean Base Acres – N/A± acres
Soybean Yield – N/A± bushels
CRP INFORMATION:
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): 101.77 acres enrolled. 10 fields enrolled with payments ranging from $222/acre to $353.90/acre. Annual payments total $24,554.99. Contract information available upon request.
ORCHARD INFORMATION:
Two fields. Approximately 13.60 acres west of building sites and 33 acres, including apple shed, south of building sites. Tree count on Parcel 2 information sheets. There is a well exclusively for the apple orchard.
APPLE SHED INFORMATION:
Two attached sheds – approx. 40’x45′ and 50’x30′. One large area is used for packing and storage, and another large area is cold storage/climate controlled for storing fruit until used. There is a forklift and 1995 International truck.
Well is a 5″ casing, 250′ deep, submersible pump, installed 1989.
SOIL DESCRIPTION:
Lester-Harwick-Storden Complex, Hamel Loam, Glencoe Clay Loam, Lester Loam. See Soil Map.
CROP PRODUCTIVITY INDEX (CPI):
72.4 CPI
TOPOGRAPHY:
Rolling with orchard, woodland, grassland and wetlands.
DRAINAGE:
Outlet: Private open ditch, natural stream and wetlands.
NRCS CLASSIFICATION ON TILLABLE ACRES:
Tillable acres only; PC/NW – Prior Converted/No Wetland, HEL – Highly Erodible Land and Wetlands. CRP acres are classified as tillable acres.
BUILDABLE LOTS:
Le Sueur County Planning & Zoning stated that three building eligibilities exist for the parcel.
CRP/Hunting/Recreational Tract
DESCRIPTION:
W 1/2 NE 1/4, Part of W 1/2 SE 1/4 NE 1/4, Part of NE 1/4 SE 1/4, approximately 128.12 acres TBD by survey if sold as separate parcel. Section 18 T109N-R24W (Elysian Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota)
TAX ID #:
04.018.2500 (total parcel)
REAL ESTATE TAXES:
If the property sells as two parcels, the Le Sueur County Treasurer will calculate the Real Estate Taxes and Special Assessments attributed to each parcel. See Total Property Information sheet for 2024 tax information. 2025 estimated taxes are not yet available.
FSA INFORMATION:
Total Acres – 128.06± acres
FSA Tillable (all in CRP) – 95.27± acres
Corn Base Acres – 47.11± acres (Note: base is reduced to 0 while in CRP)
Corn PLC Yield – 115± bushels
Soybean Base Acres – N/A± acres
Soybean PLC Yield – N/A± acres
CRP INFORMATION:
Conservation Reserve Program: approx. 95.68 acres enrolled. 10 fields with payments ranging from $222/acre to $353.90/acre. Approximate annual payment total $23,219. Contract information available upon request.
SOIL DESCRIPTION:
Lester-Harwick-Storden Complex, Hamel Loam, Glencoe Clay Loam, Lester Loam. See Soil Map.
CROP PRODUCTIVITY INDEX (CPI):
78.8 CPI
TOPOGRAPHY:
Rolling with woodland, grassland and wetlands.
DRAINAGE:
Outlet: Private open ditch. Governed by private drainage agreement.
NRCS CLASSIFICATION ON TILLABLE ACRES:
Tillable acres only; PC/NW – Prior Converted/No Wetland, HEL – Highly Erodible Land & Wetlands. CRP acres are classified as tillable acres.
BUILDABLE LOTS:
Le Sueur County Planning & Zoning stated that two building eligibilities exist for the parcel.
Apple Orchard
DESCRIPTION:
Part of the E 1/2 of NE 1/4 and part of N 1/2 of NE 1/4 of SE 1/4, Section 18 T109N-R24W Approximately 62 acres TBD by survey (Elysian Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota)
TAX ID #:
04.018.2500 (total parcel)
REAL ESTATE TAXES:
If the property sells as two parcels, the Le Sueur County Treasurer will calculate the Real Estate Taxes and Special Assessments attributed to each parcel. See Total Property Information sheet for 2024 tax information. 2025 estimated taxes not yet available.
FSA INFORMATION:
Total Acres – 62± acres
FSA Tillable (includes CRP)* – 54.17± acres
Corn Base Acres* – 54.17± acres
Corn PLC Yield – 115± bushels
Soybean Base Acres – N/A± acres
Soybean PLC Yield – N/A± bushels
*May have CRP crop reduction acres.
If property is sold as two parcels, FSA will recalculate base acres.
CRP INFORMATION:
Approximately 6.02 acres are enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) at $222.00/acre with estimated annual payment of $1,336. Contract expires 9-30-2028. The 6.02 acres are part of a larger CRP acreage. FSA will recalculate the payment after closing. Contract information available upon request.
SOIL DESCRIPTION:
Lester-Harwick-Storden Complex, Hamel Loam, Glencoe Clay Loam, Lester Loam. See Soil Map.
ORCHARD INVENTORY:
(Estimated Number of Trees) APPLE: 5,000 Honey Crisp, 2,500 Zestar!, 250 Ruby Jon, 250 Haralson, 50 Stella. PEAR: 50 Nova, 50 Parker. There is a sizable area that can be planted to new trees if a purchaser wants to expand. Note: Both orchards are fenced with 8′ fencing to keep out deer.
CROP PRODUCTIVITY INDEX (CPI):
64.9 CPI
TOPOGRAPHY:
Level to rolling.
NRCS CLASSIFICATION ON TILLABLE ACRES:
Tillable acres only; PC/NW – Prior Converted/No Wetland, HEL – Highly Erodible Land & Wetlands. CRP acres are classified as tillable acres.
APPLE SHED & WELL INFORMATION:
Building has two sections: 42’x45’± for equipment and packing area. 30’x53’± Climate controlled for storing picked fruit. Well is a 5″ casing, 250′ deep, submersible pump, installed 1989.
EQUIPMENT:
Forklift, 1995 International truck.
BUILDABLE LOTS:
Le Sueur County Planning & Zoning stated that one building eligibility exists on this parcel.
