Farmland Values – Land Sales Bulletin

Iowa’s August Farmland Auctions Highlight Market Strength Across 43 Counties

Jennifer Moran | July 30, 2026

Successful Farming reports more than 8,780 acres of Iowa farmland heading to auction in August 2026, spanning 43 counties and a wide range of tracts . The lineup reflects the selective strength we continue to monitor across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region, including Iowa.

Key Points for Iowa Readers

O’Brien County features 564.04 acres offered in eight tracts with CSR2 ratings ranging from 91.4 to 100, underscoring exceptional soil quality .
Montgomery and Mills counties bring 596.92 acres to auction with diverse tracts, multiple CSR2 profiles and income‑producing features such as grain bins and CRP acres generating annual payments of $13,039 .
Henry County’s 396.49 acres include highly productive Mahaska soils, CRP waterways and open tenancy for the 2027 crop year, driving early interest and expected competition for top‑quality parcels .
At least 52 additional auctions are scheduled statewide, with activity strong in central, northwestern and eastern Iowa counties .
Economists describe the market as stable but highly selective, supported by limited supply and strong demand for high‑quality, strategically located farms .

Iowa’s August auction calendar reinforces the disciplined buyer activity and sustained demand we continue to track across LSB’s Midwest reporting states.

Read more from Successful Farming: https://www.agriculture.com/more-than-8-780-acres-of-iowa-farmland-head-to-the-auction-block-in-august-2026-12027830
Land Sales Bulletin’s Iowa reporting details: https://landsalesbulletin.com/land-sales-data-services/#iowa

Minnesota Farmland Market Shows Steady Strength as 2026 Sales Add New Clarity

Jennifer Moran | July 29, 2026

The latest Farm Progress report reinforces what Land Sales Bulletin continues to see across Minnesota: even after two years of breakeven agriculture, farmland values remain steady and supported by excellent crop ratings, timely rains, and long‑term buyer confidence. Timely rains are helping farmers “out‑bushel” lower commodity prices and maintain yield potential.

While commodity prices have softened, the Farm Progress analysis points to multiple factors keeping land values firm: low sale volume, neighborhood competitive dynamics, government support, legacy equity, new investment money, 1031 exchange activity, interest rates, and inflation hedging . As Farm Progress notes, short‑term market weakness has not overtaken long‑term thinking in farmland decisions.

Key Minnesota takeaways:

Strong crop outlook with USDA rating corn 67% excellent and soybeans 65% excellent
Timely rains strengthening yield potential
Seller‑friendly conditions for A‑quality land despite breakeven economics
Multiple market forces supporting values beyond commodity prices
Competitive sales across Minnesota counties:
- Blue Earth County: ~90 acres at $12,389 per acre, CPI 81.7
- Faribault County: ~40 acres at $12,000 per acre, CPI 91.9
- Le Sueur County: ~144.38 acres at $12,851 per acre, CPI 90.2
- Murray County: ~160 acres at $10,100 per acre, CPI 92.8
- Nobles County: ~160 acres at $12,500 per acre, CPI 93.3
- Polk County: ~80 acres at $10,000 per acre, CPI 91.1
- Sibley County: ~120 acres at $11,000 per acre, CPI 91.8
- Traverse County: ~141.21 acres at $8,500 per acre, CPI 93.7

As fall approaches, these finalized sales will provide additional data points that help define Minnesota’s market direction and reinforce the long‑term stability that continues to characterize the region. Read more from Farm Progress: Farmland market affected by much more than just commodity prices

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

Midyear 2026 Farmland Values: Resilience Across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Jennifer Moran | July 22, 2026

Benchmark farmland values across Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming remain flat to slightly higher in mid‑2026, according to Farm Credit Services of America’s July Benchmark Farmland Report. Values are supported by strong buyer financials and an already tight real estate market that saw even fewer sales in the first half of the year.

Iowa cropland dipped modestly, leaving overall benchmark values flat. Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming posted incremental gains across both cropland and pasture since January.

The report also highlights broader trends across grain and protein‑producing states served by collaborating Farm Credit associations, reinforcing long‑term appreciation and durable demand across the Midwest.

Iowa*

6‑month change: 0.0% | 1‑year change: ‑1.4%
5‑year change: 31.6% | 10‑year change: 51.1%

Nebraska*

6‑month change: +1.2% | 1‑year change: +3.2%
5‑year change: 42.9% | 10‑year change: 39.2%

South Dakota*

6‑month change: +4.2% | 1‑year change: +6.4%
5‑year change: 71.6% | 10‑year change: 61.8%

Wyoming

6‑month change: +2.7% | 1‑year change: +6.0%
5‑year change: 55.4% | 10‑year change: 99.6%

Market Context

Tight real estate supply and financially strong buyers continue to support values region‑wide
Benchmark values across all four states show significant long‑term appreciation, with ten‑year gains averaging nearly 100%

*Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Full Report: Farmland Values 2026: Trends in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming | FCSAmerica

Midwest Farmland Values: Strong Sales Across IL, MN, MO, and SD

Jennifer Moran | July 16, 2026

Farmland sales across our reporting states of Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, and neighboring Missouri continue to show the Midwest’s steady land market strength. Progressive Farmer’s latest report highlights multi‑tract auctions with strong per‑acre prices, solid soil ratings, and diversified tracts that reinforce ongoing buyer demand across the region.

Illinois (Livingston County): A 236‑acre farm sold for $2.7M, averaging $11,350/acre.
Minnesota (Cottonwood & Watonwan Counties): A 449‑acre auction brought $5.2M — averaging $11,775/acre — with soil ratings in the 90s.
South Dakota (Moody County): A 407‑acre farm sold for $5.3M at $13,100/acre.
Missouri (Sullivan County): A 164‑acre farm sold for $1M, with cropland tracts averaging $4,750/acre and mixed-use features including pasture, hayfields, timber, and a home site.

Progressive Farmer’s coverage underscores the strength of Midwest farmland values and provides timely insights for producers, investors, and land professionals across our Land Sales Bulletin reporting states, and Missouri. https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2026/07/16/recent-farmland-sales-illinois-south

Midwest Farmland Sales: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota See Active Summer Markets

Jennifer Moran | July 13, 2026

Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch Weekly column highlights another week of active farmland sales across the Midwest. While Kansas is not part of Land Sales Bulletin’s official reporting region, its inclusion offers valuable context for our readers following regional trends. Strong demand, diverse property types, and notable per‑acre values were seen across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Highlights:

Iowa – Buchanan County: 51-acre farm sold for $1.7M, including a 39-acre cropland tract at $16,196/acre
Kansas – Barber County (non‑reporting state): 311-acre farm sold for $799,655 ($2,575/acre) with wheat, canola, and corn base acres plus pasture and ponds
Nebraska – Garden County: 523-acre recreational ranch sold for $1.2M ($2,296/acre) featuring ponds, pasture units, and a ranch home
South Dakota – Beadle County: 161-acre pastureland farm sold for $693,966 ($4,305/acre) with virgin sod and cropland conversion potential

See the full report and breakdown from Progressive Farmer: Recent Farmland Sales in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota

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

Summer 2026 Farmland Values: Stability Across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota & Nebraska

Jennifer Moran | July 1, 2026

Farmland values across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region continue to show steady, resilient performance heading into Summer 2026, according to Hertz Farm Management’s latest update.

Iowa remains stable, with farmland values increasing 1.3% from September 2025 to March 2026 . Over the past 12 months, Iowa posted a net 0.3% gain after a brief dip earlier in 2025.
Illinois shows a choppy‑sideways trend. “Excellent” quality land declined 3%, while “Good” and “Average” land remained flat and “Fair” land increased 2% . Despite near‑term caution—61% of respondents expect prices to decline in 2026 —values remain 49–54% above 2020 levels.
Nebraska cropland values softened, declining 1–3% statewide, while grazing land rose up to 7% on strong cattle prices . Overall agricultural land values fell 1% year‑over‑year, marking a second consecutive annual decline.
Minnesota remains resilient, with modest increases in non‑irrigated cropland prices and ranchland rents, while irrigated rents declined . Lenders remain cautious, with 64% expecting farm incomes to decrease in the year ahead.

Across the Corn Belt, limited land supply, steady buyer interest, and stable long‑term fundamentals continue to support values despite tighter margins and broader economic volatility. Read more from Hertz Farm Management: https://www.hertz.ag/blog/detail/farmland-values-update-summer-2026