Farmland Market Archives - Land Sales Bulletin

Iowa Farmland Market Setting Up for a Late‑Season Sales Surge

Jennifer Moran | July 27, 2026

As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, Iowa is showing early signs of a more active land market heading into late summer and fall. Here are the report highlights:

Iowa, one of LSB’s Midwest reporting states, may see a “flush of land sales” between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30.
Heirs who inherited land in 2024–25 may test the early‑season market before late fall and winter.
Demand continues to outpace supply statewide, keeping conditions seller‑friendly in 2026.
June Iowa sales showed strong pricing and competitive CSR2 ratios across multiple counties.
A brief pause is expected during peak harvest before another strong run of sales late in the year.

Recent June sales across Iowa reinforce that seller‑friendly environment, with strong prices and competitive CSR2 ratios observed in multiple counties. Market momentum is expected to pause briefly during peak harvest before another strong run late in the year. Source: Farm Progress
Author: Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Real Estate Services
Article Link: https://www.farmprogress.com/markets-and-quotes/surge-of-iowa-farmland-sales-likely-later-this-year

Landwatch Weekly: Recent Midwest Farmland Sales Across Iowa, Indiana & South Dakota

Jennifer Moran | July 24, 2026

Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch Weekly column continues to show steady strength across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region. This week’s updates highlight positive momentum in Iowa, Indiana, and South Dakota, with strong per‑acre values and diversified land use driving buyer interest.

Midwest Highlights

Indiana – Wells County A 79‑acre farm sold for $24,050 per acre, supported by 52 acres of tillable ground and two residential homes.
Iowa – Allamakee County A 258‑acre multi‑tract sale averaged $16,750 per acre, with one premium tract reaching $27,400 per acre. Buyers were drawn to a mix of timber, tillable acres, recreational land, and Mississippi River views.
South Dakota – Brookings County A 40‑acre farm sold for $14,125 per acre, featuring strong cropland SPI (81.9), livestock paddocks, a residence, and a heated shop — a well‑rounded operational property.

These finalized sales reinforce continued confidence in high‑quality cropland, diversified land assets, and properties with strong residential or operational improvements across the Midwest.

Source: Progressive Farmer — Landwatch Weekly
Article Link: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2026/07/23/recent-farmland-sales-indiana-iowa

Sunflower Acreage Climbs in 2026: Strong Gains in North & South Dakota Lead the Nation

Jennifer Moran | July 23, 2026

U.S. sunflower acreage rose 5% this year to 1.35 million acres, according to USDA estimates, with the strongest growth coming from South Dakota and North Dakota. Oil‑type and non‑oil sunflower varieties both saw year‑over‑year increases, reflecting tight stocks, strong demand, and elevated prices heading into fall.

Among the eight major sunflower‑producing states, the Dakotas stand out. South Dakota posted the largest increase in planted oil‑type acres, up 56,000 acres from last year . North Dakota followed with a 30,000‑acre increase . Non‑oil sunflower acreage also expanded sharply, with South Dakota again leading all states with a 21,000‑acre jump .

For Land Sales Bulletin readers, this is a positive regional signal: both North Dakota and South Dakota—key LSB Midwest reporting states—are driving national growth in a crop tied to strong market fundamentals, tight stocks, and early‑harvest price premiums expected later this season .

South Dakota: Largest oil‑type acreage increase (+56,000 acres) and largest non‑oil increase (+21,000 acres).
North Dakota: Strong oil‑type acreage growth (+30,000 acres).
Market Context: Tight stocks and strong demand expected to keep prices firm into September.
National Trend: U.S. sunflower acreage up 5% year over year.

Read more from Farm Progress: U.S. sunflower acreage jumps 5% as tight stock pushes prices

Minnesota Farmland Auctions Gain Momentum This July: Highlights from Successful Farming

Jennifer Moran | July 10, 2026

Successful Farming reports more than 1,160 acres of Minnesota farmland heading to auction this July across multiple counties. Here’s a concise breakdown aligned with Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region.

Faribault & Freeborn Counties (Hertz Farm Management)

429.66 acres offered in five parcels (sealed bid, July 16).
Mix of smaller and larger cropland tracts.
High‑quality soils; select parcels feature CPI ratings above 90.
One parcel includes a turnkey farmstead with significant grain storage.

Faribault County (Wingert Land Services)

75‑acre tract near the MN–IA border (July 29).
Strong soils with a CPI of 93.5.
Well‑drained and positioned for competitive bidding.

Waseca County (Wingert Land Services)

160‑acre farm selling July 31.
CPI of 93.6, well above county averages.
Includes CRP acres and grain storage; attractive for both operators and investors.

Additional Auctions Across Minnesota

Several more July auctions statewide, many featuring homesteads, grain bins, and machine sheds.
Majority located south of Interstate 94.

Market Context:

Strong interest expected for high‑CPI tracts.
Buyer enthusiasm moderated by grain prices, input costs, and interest rates.
Most sales expected to land near county averages.

LSB Perspective

Minnesota remains a key part of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region. These July auctions reflect what our finalized sales consistently show:

Steady demand for quality soils
Selective bidding shaped by credit conditions
Continued resilience across Minnesota farmland markets

Read more from Successful Farming: More Than 1,160 Acres of Minnesota Farmland Head to the Auction Block in July 2026

FarmDoc Daily Illinois Report: Farmland Prices and Government Programs July 7, 2026

Jennifer Moran | July 9, 2026

Illinois farmland values rose sharply from 2020 to 2023, then held steady or eased slightly through 2025, even as farmer returns fell and turned negative on many cash‑rented acres. Excellent‑productivity farmland climbed 57 percent during the upswing, then declined only 5 percent from its 2023 peak.

Cash rents followed a similar pattern, rising quickly during strong return years, then barely adjusting downward when returns weakened.

Federal programs, including crop insurance, ARC and PLC, and recent ad hoc assistance, continue to buffer income and slow cost‑structure adjustments across Illinois agriculture.

These dynamics explain why farmland prices have not retreated meaningfully and why rent negotiations remain tight heading into 2026 for our Midwest reporting state of Illinois.

Download their report (PDF): https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fdd070726.pdf

Nebraska Farmland Sales Hold Steady Across Key Regions

Jennifer Moran | July 6, 2026

Nebraska’s land market continues to show strength this summer, even with limited inventory. According to Farm Progress, high‑quality farms remain in demand, with more buyers than sellers across the state.

Representative sales from five counties highlight the range of values and land types moving this season.

Garden County (Panhandle): 159.59 acres sold for $1,785/acre, featuring superior soils and strong ag plus recreational potential
Merrick County (East): 78.08 acres sold for $9,925/acre, a well‑managed Platte Valley irrigated farm with excellent water access
Lancaster County (Southeast Lincoln area): 124.06 acres sold for $18,499/acre, driven by transitional development potential and strong location advantages
Hall County (Central): 76.54 acres sold for $11,039/acre, positioned near strong grain markets and an ethanol plant
Johnson County (Southeast): 160 acres sold for $10,500/acre, with 96% tillable acres and completed conservation work

Nebraska remains a core state in Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region, and these sales reflect a market where quality land continues to attract strong buyer interest. Farm Progress: Farmland sales hold steady across Nebraska

Minnesota Farmland Snapshot: Recent Sales Across Key Counties

Jennifer Moran | July 2, 2026

Minnesota’s farmland market continues to show resilience heading into the second half of 2026, supported by recent sales across several counties statewide. While values have softened slightly, the market remains stable, with widening gaps between excellent and moderate-quality tracts as buyer demand shifts.

3 Key Things to Watch in the Second Half of 2026

2026 Crop Outlook — In‑season yield expectations will heavily influence farmer optimism and market aggressiveness
Geopolitics — War, trade, interest rates, and tariffs continue to shape commodity prices and input costs, with potential rate hikes and shifting global commitments on the horizon
Government Support — Additional assistance programs may help producers manage rising fuel and fertilizer costs and provide underlying support for land values

As a key Midwest reporting state for Land Sales Bulletin, Minnesota continues to demonstrate steady strength in the Midwest land market. Farm Progress:https://www.farmprogress.com/management/3-things-to-watch-as-farmland-market-readies-for-second-half-of-2026

Iowa Farmland Auctions Bring More Than 2,700 Acres to Market in July

Jennifer Moran | June 29, 2026

Iowa’s farmland market enters July with more than 2,700 acres scheduled for auction across 16 counties. Listings range from small 3‑acre tracts to multiparcel offerings nearing 780 acres, underscoring steady demand in one of Land Sales Bulletin’s core Midwest reporting states.

Poweshiek County leads early activity with 392 acres selling July 10 across three tracts, all rented for the 2026 crop year.
In northwest Iowa, Pocahontas County brings 775 acres across nine tracts with CSR2 values ranging 80–85.2 in an online‑only auction ending July 15.
Fremont County follows with a 143.99‑acre offering featuring a weighted CSR2 of 83.4 and $17,700 in 2026 cash‑rent income to the buyer.

Statewide, at least 13 additional auctions are expected, with most located south of US‑20. Iowa’s farmland values have increased 1.3% over the past six months, signaling cautious optimism among producers and investors. Read more from Successful Farming: More Than 2700 Acres of Iowa Farmland Head to Auction in July 2026

More than 2,700 Acres of Iowa Farmland head to Auction this July 2026

June 2026 Farmland Market Update: Stability Holds Across the Corn Belt

Jennifer Moran | June 15, 2026

Hertz Real Estate Services’ June 2026 Farmland Market Update highlights a land market that remains steady across the Corn Belt, even as producers navigate tighter margins and shifting interest‑rate expectations. Hear from their President, Doug Hensley, shares the latest on farmland values, current market conditions, and key factors influencing the land market – Hertz Farmland Market Update Videos

Across the Midwest, Land Sales Bulletin’s finalized land sale data reflects the same trend: resilient pricing for top‑tier cropland across our Corn Belt states. While softer commodity prices and elevated input costs are creating pressure, neither has meaningfully disrupted the market’s underlying strength.

As both a trusted customer and a leading voice in the farmland industry, proud to share Hertz’s latest update. Make sure to sign up to have their Farmland Market Updates land in your inbox: https://www.hertz.ag/subscribe

South Dakota Farmland Market Update: Stability Driven by Local Demand

Jennifer Moran | June 12, 2026

South Dakota continues to demonstrate steady strength and stability in the Midwest farmland market, supported by limited supply, strong operator interest, and stable cash rents. As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, South Dakota remains a key region where finalized sales data helps producers, lenders, and landowners understand real-time market conditions.

Recent insights from ASFMRA‘s South Dakota Ag Update highlight several consistent themes. High-quality tracts continue to draw competitive bidding, with local producers leading most purchases. Investor activity remains present but secondary to operator demand. Cash rents are holding firm across much of the state, supported by strong balance sheets and the ongoing scarcity of acres coming to market.

With planting season progressing and producers optimistic about field conditions, the overall outlook remains steady. Limited supply continues to be the defining factor supporting values, even as margins tighten and operating costs rise.

Tune in to learn more in ASFMRAs South Dakota Ag Update.

Land Sales Bulletin will continue to track finalized sales across South Dakota and the broader Midwest to keep the market informed.