Technical Abstract: Producers have limited information for determining the economic potential of growing perennial grass pastures on non-irrigated cropland in the Great Plains. The objective of this study was to determine if grazing perennial grass pastures is profitable by monitoring pasture establishment costs, steer performance, and net return per acre for perennial grass pastures in eastern Nebraska. 'Bonanza' big bluestem pastures were grown on non-irrigated cropland in eastern Nebraska and were burned and fertilized in the spring prior to grazing. Each pasture was stocked with three yearling steers in mid-June 2000, 2001, and 2002. Pasture development cost was amortized for 15 years at 5%, and added to annual inputs of fertilizer, herbicides, and burning to average $62 per acre. Big bluestem produced an average of 405 lb of beef per acre. Big bluestem pastures returned as much as $164 per acre, and averaged $119 per acre, and appear to have excellent economic potential on non-irrigated marginal cropland in eastern Nebraska.