Opinion ID: 2607963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Brome and Clover Lands

Text: The witness testified without objection that the fair market value of lands in the area producing brome and clover hay and similar types of grass was $175 per acre. Based upon his experience as a real estate salesman and broker, the brome and clover lands, after the clover was killed, were reduced to pasture. On voir dire the witness testified that in his opinion there was not enough clover left in the fields that were damaged to produce a paying hay crop. Upon cross-examination he again testified that because of the damage the said fields would not produce a paying hay crop, and therefore the highest and best use would be as pasture. He knew of sales of irrigated pastures in the area, which pastures were comparable to the plaintiff's after the damage. In his opinion the salability of these lands was somewhat affected because they were damaged by the spray. The value of the said 34 acres, after the damage was, in his opinion, $125 per acre. The opinion of the witness as to the value of the lands before the damage and the value of irrigated pasture was not objected to by the defendants. The defendants objected that there was no proper foundation for the witness' opinion of the aftervalue of said 34 acres because his opinion was based upon his belief that the said lands had, because of damage, been reduced to irrigated pasture. The defendants did not challenge the witness' qualifications, and the record showed that he had extensive training and experience in appraisal work. The witness was not challenged on his inspection of plaintiff's lands or the irrigated pasture lands. His investigation appeared to have been rather extensive, and the trial court was warranted in determining that the witness had sufficient knowledge of the properties to admit his opinion that the lands, after the damage, had been reduced to irrigated pasture. Again, we are given no authority or convincing arguments for defendants' contentions. This court has said on many occasions that we take a liberal view in the matter of foundation for opinion evidence of values. State Highway Commission v. Newton, Wyo., 395 P.2d 606, 608.