Second Quarter Farmland Values Hold Steady Across the Midwest

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 14, 2026

Midwest farmland values were unchanged in the second quarter of 2026 according to AgLetter, No. 2013, August 2026 from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While overall District values were flat year over year, the report shows a mixed picture across Land Sales Bulletin’s core Midwest reporting states.

Key summary points

  • Illinois farmland values posted year-over-year gains.
  • Iowa also recorded increases, supported in part by investment activity tied to data centers and renewable energy projects.
  • Indiana farmland values declined compared with last year.
  • Wisconsin saw year-over-year decreases and lenders noted expectations that values may plateau as outside pressures ease

Credit conditions across the District weakened, with repayment challenges rising to their highest level since 2020. Lenders also reported lower repayment rates and higher renewals and extensions on non-real-estate farm loans.

Read the full report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/agletter/2025-2029/august-2026

August Farmland Sales Snapshot Across the Midwest

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 12, 2026

Midwest farmland activity remained steady heading into August, with finalized sales reported across our Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as Kansas. DTN Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch highlights a mix of cropland, CRP acres, timber value, and recreational tracts that continue to shape our Midwest regional market momentum.

Key Midwest Highlights:

  • Illinois: Whiteside County farm sold for $10,811 per acre with 93 CRP acres generating annual income through 2029
  • Indiana: Randolph County tract sold for $10,667 per acre, including tillable acres, wooded ground, a home, and a large barn
  • Iowa: Hancock County farm reached $18,500 per acre with strong corn and soybean PLC yields
  • Kansas: Decatur County cropland and grassland sold for $1,500 per acre with solid access and water availability
  • Minnesota: Becker County property sold for $9,565 per acre featuring CRP acres, wooded areas, low ground, and strong deer habitat
  • North Dakota: Pembina County farm sold for $1,994 per acre with wheat and soybean base acres and an 82 productivity index
  • Wisconsin: Grant County parcels averaged $16,158 per acre, both enrolled in CRP with solid soil ratings and blacktop access

Read the full DTN Progressive Farmer article: DTN Progressive Farmer Landwatch Report 7-31-2026

Land Sales Bulletin Midwest Roundup Report | Close of July 2026

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 10, 2026

End of July’s Midwest farmland activity highlights strong demand for high‑quality row‑crop ground, CRP‑enrolled parcels and mixed‑use tracts. Our Midwest reporting states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as neighboring Kansas and Missouri, all posted notable sales. Upcoming August auctions for Illinois, Iowa, and North Dakota echo expected strong farmland activity. Below is a state‑by‑state breakdown of finalized sales and upcoming offerings sourced from DTN Progressive Farmer and Successful Farming.

ILLINOIS

Recent Sales

Upcoming August Auctions

INDIANA

Recent Sales

  • Randolph County: 30 acres sold for $320,000 or $10,667 per acre including tillable acres and a barn Link: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2026/08/01/august-2026-recent-farmland-sales
  • Grant County: 131 acres sold for $1.5M or $11,069 per acre including home, cattle facilities and tillable acres (from the DTN Georgia/IN/MO/MN article) Link: DTN-Progressive Farmer Landwatch Weekly Report 7-30-2026

IOWA

Recent Sales

Upcoming August Auctions

KANSAS

Recent Sales

MINNESOTA

Recent Sales

  • Becker County: 115 acres sold for $1.1M or $9,565 per acre including CRP, wooded areas and deer habitat Link: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2026/08/01/august-2026-recent-farmland-sales
  • Lincoln County: 112 acres sold for $559,200 or $5,000 per acre including cropland, CRP and grassland Link: DTN-Progressive Farmer Landwatch Weekly Report 7-30-2026

MISSOURI

Recent Sales

NORTH DAKOTA

Recent Sales

Upcoming August Auctions

WISCONSIN

Recent Sales

August Illinois Farmland Auctions: 1,600+ Acres Coming to Market

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 4, 2026

Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting state of Illinois enters August with more than 1,623 acres of farmland scheduled for auction across 13 counties, according to Successful Farming. Offerings range from Class A row‑crop tracts with high soil productivity to parcels featuring wind‑lease income, CRP‑supported acres, and strong accessibility, giving buyers a diverse slate of opportunities statewide.

Key Illinois Highlights:

  • Douglas County: three‑tract auction totaling 114.77 acres with PI ratings of 139.5, 140.3, and 132.5, plus grain storage assets and open 2027 tenancy
  • Jersey County: 80 acres averaging 132.65 PI, with roughly 50 acres over 138 PI, well above county averages
  • DeWitt County: 109.54‑acre Class A farm with wind turbine income estimated at $26,384.24 for 2026, PI 139.7, and open 2027 tenancy
  • Statewide Auctions: at least 12 additional auctions planned, with tracts ranging 40–170 acres across western, central, and southern Illinois

Read more from Successful Farming: More-than-1-623-acres-of-illinois-farmland-head-to-auction-in-august-2026

August Farmland Sales Snapshot Across the Midwest

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 3, 2026

Midwest farmland activity remained steady heading into August, with finalized sales reported across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. DTN Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch Weekly highlights a mix of cropland, CRP acres, timber value, and recreational tracts that continue to shape our Midwest regional market momentum.
Key Midwest Highlights:

  • Illinois: Whiteside County farm sold for $10,811 per acre with 93 CRP acres generating annual income through 2029 .
  • Indiana: Randolph County tract sold for $10,667 per acre, including tillable acres, wooded ground, a home, and a large barn .
  • Iowa: Hancock County farm reached $18,500 per acre with strong corn and soybean PLC yields .
  • Kansas: Decatur County cropland and grassland sold for $1,500 per acre with solid access and water availability .
  • Minnesota: Becker County property sold for $9,565 per acre featuring CRP acres, wooded areas, low ground, and strong deer habitat .
  • North Dakota: Pembina County farm sold for $1,994 per acre with wheat and soybean base acres and an 82 productivity index .
  • Wisconsin: Grant County parcels averaged $16,158 per acre, both enrolled in CRP with solid soil ratings and blacktop access .

Read the full DTN Progressive Farmer article: Progressive Farmer Landwatch Weekly August 2026

Notable Midwest Farmland Sales Strengthen Across Key Reporting States in July 2026

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 28, 2026

American Farmland Owner report shows Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states saw strong multi‑tract auction activity in July:

  • Juneau County, WI multi‑tract auction sold 799.66 acres for $6,639,601, averaging $8,303 per acre
  • Wisconsin Tracts 1–3 each sold for $8,700 per acre, and the 11.66‑acre Tract 10 reached $13,000 per acre, reflecting premium demand for smaller parcels
  • Sangamon County, IL multi‑tract sale totaled $4,435,847, with top tracts selling for $16,000 and $15,200 per acre despite similar PI ratings of 126.1–129.5
  • Illinois Tract 4 sold for $8,300 per acre due to 20 acres of timber enrolled in permanent CREP, reducing tillable acreage despite comparable soil quality
  • Pocahontas County, IA auction brought consistent pricing between $10,250 and $11,050 per acre, with CSR2 ratings generally 80–85 across nine tracts
  • Even the lowest Iowa tract held at $9,500 per acre, showing tight buyer sentiment and strong regional reputation for productive farmland

Credit: American Farmland Owner
Article link: https://www.americanfarmlandowner.com/post/notable-midwest-sales-july-2026-highlight-multi-tract-auctions

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

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 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

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

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 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.

Read more from FarmDoc Daily: https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/07/farmland-prices-and-government-programs.html

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

American Farmland Owner: Notable Midwest Land Sales for June 2026

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 8, 2026

Recent land sale transactions highlights a highly variable Midwest land market. Premium tracts commanding up to $18,100 per acre while marginal acreage traded as low as $2,500 per acre. For industry ag professionals, these spreads reinforce that valuation is strictly localized and dictated entirely by CSR2/PI scores, water access, and regional buyer competition. Find sales details for our featured Midwest reporting states of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin in American Farmland Owner’s June report: American Farmland Owner June 2026 Notable Sales