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
A recent auction in west‑central Indiana showcased the continued strength of Midwest farmland—especially in regions where scale, soil quality, and location converge. The 602-acre farm, offered in seven tracts, drew 54 registered bidders and a standing‑room‑only crowd, with interest coming from seven states.
Despite the wide geographic interest, the final buyers were all local farmers or investors from west‑central Indiana, underscoring the resilience of local demand in a tightly held region. The property’s appeal was driven by three rare attributes:
Large scale — 602 acres, with 595.57 acres classified as cropland
High-quality soils — a WAPI of 172.6, unusually strong for the region
Strategic location — near major routes and within the growing “Silicon Heartland” corridor between Indianapolis and Purdue University
As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, Indiana continues to demonstrate selective strength—particularly for Class A soils and large, contiguous tracts that rarely come to market.
The Chicago Federal Reserve’s latest AgLetter shows that Midwest farmland values continue to demonstrate steady resilience heading into 2026. According to Seventh District data, agricultural land values were up 3% from a year earlier in the first quarter, even as “good” farmland saw a slight 1% dip from Q4 2025.
Surveyed lenders reported lower demand for farmland purchases compared with the same period last year, and the amount of farmland for sale also declined heading into early spring. Acreage sold followed the same trend, with fewer farms and fewer acres changing hands year over year.
Cash rents softened across much of the region, with the District seeing a 3% decrease in 2026—the second consecutive annual decline. State‑level shifts varied: rents were up 2% in Indiana, but down in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Credit conditions weakened as well. Lenders reported lower repayment rates, higher renewals and extensions, and continued strong demand for operating loans—now up for the tenth straight quarter. Nearly 17% of borrowers carried more debt into 2026 than the prior year. Read more: https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/agletter/2025-2029/may-2026
For Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—these findings reinforce what our weekly finalized sales continue to show: a market adjusting to tighter credit and softer rent structures, yet still anchored by long‑term demand and the enduring strength of Midwest agriculture.
Across the Midwest, farmland is more than acreage—it is heritage, livelihood, and the foundation of rural communities. Yet despite its importance, reliable information about what land actually sells for can be surprisingly difficult to find. That’s where Land Sales Bulletin plays a vital role.
For more than three decades, Land Sales Bulletin (LSB) has served as one of the Midwest’s most trusted sources for rural land sales. In a region where agriculture shapes local economies, family legacies, and community identity, LSB provides something essential: accurate, timely, recorded county‑level land sale data. Our data provides a clear, factual picture of the land market—free from speculation, rumor, or inflated auction chatter.
What Land Sales Bulletin Does
LSB focuses exclusively on recorded land sales of 20 acres or more, across 10 core Midwest states: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, pulled directly from county courthouse records. This means:
No pending sales
No auction estimates
No unverifiable numbers
Just finalized, documented transactions that reflect real market activity.
Each sale includes county‑level detail—acres, price, land type, soil ratings, PINS, and buyer/seller information when available—giving farmers, landowners, brokers, lenders, appraisers, investors, and rural communities the transparency they need to make informed decisions.
Why This Matters to the Public
Even for residents who are not involved in agriculture, land sales influence daily life:
Local businesses depend on strong farm income.
Schools and infrastructure rely on stable property valuations.
Community planning requires understanding how land use is changing.
Economic development hinges on the health of rural land markets.
Accurate land‑sale reporting puts boots on the ground and helps ensure fairness, transparency, and informed decision‑making across the region.
The Human Story Behind Every Sale
Every land sale represents a turning point:
A retiring farmer passing land to the next generation
A young operator expanding to stay competitive
A family settling an estate
A community adjusting to new ownership
LSB’s role is to document these transitions with accuracy, timeliness and regard. By preserving the facts, LSB helps ensure that decisions—large and small—are grounded in facts.
Midwest Land Use: What the Data Shows
LSB’s 10 Midwest states remain among the most agriculturally productive in the nation. According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture:
Iowa leads the region with nearly 30 million acres of farmland.
Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, and South Dakota each maintain more than 20 million acres.
North Dakota remains heavily agricultural, dominated by row crops and small grains.
Michigan and Ohio have smaller totals but maintain diverse production bases.
Wisconsin continues to balance dairy, forage, and specialty crops.
Across the region, one trend is clear: fewer farms, larger operations, and continued consolidation. Iowa was the only state in the group to gain farms between 2017 and 2022; all others saw declines.
When combined, LSB states contain roughly 260 million acres of farmland—representing nearly 30% of all U.S. farmland. That concentration underscores the Midwest’s role as the core of U.S. food, feed, and fuel production.
How Land Sales Bulletin Supports the Region
LSB’s subscriptions provide:
Completed, documented land sales of 20+ acres
State and county‑level detail on actual recorded sale transactions
Historical back data for market trend analysis
Reliable benchmarks for appraisals, lending, and estate planning
Consistent reporting across 10 states that anchor American agriculture
Because nearly one‑third of U.S. farmland lies within these states, LSB’s reporting helps shape national understanding of land values and market trends.
What Sets Us Apart
Our strength lies in our hands-on analysis of land sales data by local Midwest-trained land sales data specialists. This expertise ensures every documented land sale transaction is carefully reviewed and contextualized, providing unparalleled insight into the true market dynamics of the region. Our specialists bring knowledge and experience, making our data not just accurate, but actionable for farmers, landowners, realtors, lenders, investors, and appraisers alike.
Additionally, Land Sales Bulletin distinguishes itself through its commitment to transparency and consistency. We source data exclusively from official county courthouse records, ensuring that every sale reported is a complete, documented transaction. This rigorous approach eliminates speculation and provides stakeholders with trustworthy, timely information. Our ongoing dedication to quality makes us the Midwest’s most reliable land sales resource and choice for rural land sales data.
A Clearer Future for Midwest Land Markets
With rising farmland values, increasing investor participation, and ongoing consolidation, the need for transparent and documented land sale information has never been greater. Land Sales Bulletin is committed to delivering the clarity, consistency, and integrity Midwest rural real estate professionals rely on—supporting informed decisions and honoring the land and communities we serve.
American Farmland Owner reports on the New Federal Reserve surveys that show farmland values across the Midwest held steady or increased in 2025, reinforcing the strength of the region’s land market even as farm finances weakened.
For those following Land Sales Bulletin’s 10-state Midwest region—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—the data highlights continued stability:
Chicago Fed District: Farmland values up 6% year over year
Indiana +9%
Wisconsin +9%
Iowa +7%
Illinois +3%
Kansas City Fed District:
Non‑irrigated land: –0.3%
Irrigated land: +1.2%
Ranchland: +4.1%
At the same time, repayment challenges increased, more banks tightened credit standards, and interest rates—while easing—remain above long‑term averages.
Even with these pressures, Midwest farmland continues to stand out as one of the most stable assets in the agricultural economy. Read more: americanfarmlandowner.com
Farmland activity across our Midwest continues to demonstrate strength and resilience, with recent sales underscoring the diversity of land types and buyer demand across Land Sales Bulletin’s core reporting states.
Here’s a concise look at notable transactions featured in the latest Landwatch Weekly:
Indiana – A large 380‑acre Elkhart County farm sold for an average of $20,265/acre, with top tracts of productive tillable ground reaching $24,480/acre. Mixed timber‑tillable tracts followed closely behind.
Minnesota – Rock County cropland brought $17,000/acre across two tracts, supported by strong PLC yields and a productivity index above 96 — a clear indicator of continued appetite for top‑tier soils.
North Dakota – Ramsey County farmland sold for $1,975/acre, with tracts offering 63–68 PI soils and flexibility for spring wheat, peas, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and canola. Values remain steady in regions where productivity varies but cropping diversity is strong.
Across the region, buyers remain focused on soil quality, crop versatility, and long‑term productivity, even as interest rates and input costs continue to shape bidding behavior.
Land Sales Bulletin provides confirmed, recorded sales across the Midwest — ensuring transparency, accuracy, and a clear view of real market movement. Read more about the highlighted sales from Progressive Farmer: https://conta.cc/4llHfoQ
Farmland auctions across our Midwest reporting states and beyond continue to show strong momentum heading into spring 2026. Progressive Farmer’s recent Landwatch sales report, highlights steady demand for high‑quality cropland, recreational tracts, and irrigated acres, with buyers still prioritizing soil productivity, location advantages, and long‑term income potential.
Recent Auction Results Across the Our Midwest Reporting States:
Indiana – Adams County A 95‑acre farm east of Decatur sold for $14,737/acre, featuring four mostly tillable parcels with Blount and Pewamo soils and an additional wooded tract.
Iowa – Monroe County A 135‑acre recreational farm brought $5,400/acre, supported by hardwood timber, CRP grasses generating $11,723 annually, and strong wildlife habitat.
Nebraska – Butler County A 159‑acre irrigated cropland farm reached $13,783/acre, supported by Hastings silt loam soils, a full‑circle pivot, and proximity to ethanol and crush plants.
Ohio – Champaign & Logan Counties A 314‑acre farm sold in two tracts for $17,557/acre, backed by strong corn and soybean PLC yields and a balanced crop base.
South Dakota – Moody County A 161‑acre row‑crop farm brought $12,876/acre, featuring solid PLC yields and added value from 2025 dairy manure application at no cost to the buyer.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago AgLetter No. 2011, February 2026 – Our Midwest reporting states farmland values ended 2025 on solid footing.
• +6% annual increase across the Seventh District • Q4 values up 2% • IL, IN, IA, WI all posted single‑digit gains • Credit conditions tightened, but interest rates eased
Recent Hertz blog post titled “Midwest Farmland Surveys Report Minor Price Changes” reports that our Midwest reporting states’ farmland values are currently experiencing a “sideways trend” as of early 2026. Find key findings covering the 7th, 9th, and 10th Federal Reporting Districts. Key highlights for our reporting states include:
Chicago Federal Reserve District: Reported a 3% average gain in land values compared to 2024, with values remaining unchanged between the second and third quarters of 2025.
Illinois and Iowa: Northern Illinois saw a 4% year-over-year gain for “good” farmland, while Iowa’s average for similar land fell by 1%.
Iowa State University Survey: Affirmed the trend with a reported slight 0.7% average increase in farmland values across the state.
Nebraska: Values declined by 2% in 2025, though this follows three consecutive years of increases and a record-setting price peak in 2024.
