Minnesota Farmland Sales Reflect Firming Market Conditions

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthSeptember 3, 2026

Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting state of Minnesota continues to monitor market sentiment as recent Farm Progress coverage highlights tightening yield expectations and stronger commodity price momentum. These recent sales results continue to show buyer preference for flat, open tracts with strong CPI profiles across Minnesota.

Summary Points

  • August WASDE reduced corn and soybean yield expectations, tightening supply forecasts
  • Pro Farmer’s Midwest crop tour reported lower than expected yields across much of the region
  • December corn near $5 and November soybeans around $12.40 have supported buyer confidence
  • Minnesota’s crop outlook appears exceptional, contributing to cautious optimism among farmers and buyers
  • Flat, open tracts continue to command premium pricing across Minnesota counties

Recent sales across Blue Earth, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Kanabec, Le Sueur, Nobles, Sibley, Stevens and Swift counties reaffirm long‑standing buyer preferences for flat, open land with strong CPI ratings. These results align with themes commonly seen in Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting state of Minnesota, where slope, shape and drainage remain central to value alongside soil quality.

Author: Jared Augustine, Hertz Farm Management
Farm Progress Report: recent-farmland-sales-reaffirm-buyer-preferences

Minnesota land sales - Farm Progress

More Than 5,200 Illinois Farmland Acres Head to Auction This September

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthSeptember 2, 2026

More than 5,218 acres of Illinois farmland are scheduled for auction throughout September, according to reporting from Successful Farming . Listings span 26 counties and include irrigated cropland, cattle pasture, CRP acres, recreational land, and multitract offerings that highlight the diversity of opportunities across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting state of Illinois.

Key Summary Points

  • Marshall and Putnam Counties feature a historic offering from the Quinn Family Farm, including irrigated cropland, cattle pasture, CRP acres, recreational ground, and a country farmstead offered in seven tracts. The largest tract includes 154 tillable acres and 129 irrigated acres with a PI of 136.5.
  • McLean County brings 310.43 surveyed acres offered as two adjacent tracts south of Bloomington, carrying a PI of 140.9, well above the county average of 135.
  • Edgar County’s 390.72 acres will be offered in five parcels, with farmland parcels carrying PI values ranging from 139.50 to 143.60 and open leases for the 2027 crop year.
  • At least 23 additional auctions are scheduled statewide, with activity stretching from Kankakee and Iroquois counties to Jackson, Pike, Hancock, and Henderson counties, including several large multitract offerings such as 856.8 acres in Kankakee County.
  • Economic analysis notes heightened uncertainty driven by crop prospects, commodity prices, interest rates, and trade conditions, with land quality continuing to influence buyer interest and sale outcomes.

Illinois continues to demonstrate strong buyer engagement across high‑quality soils, multitract offerings, and regionally competitive farmland, reinforcing its importance within Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting footprint.

Reporting by Amanda Miller, Successful Farming. Full article: https://www.agriculture.com/more-than-5-200-acres-of-illinois-farmland-head-to-auction-in-september-2026-12065522

Recent Farmland Sales Across Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio and Neighboring Kansas

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 31, 2026

Recent sale activity across the Midwest continues to show strong buyer interest in high‑quality tracts, diversified operations and properties offering supplemental income streams. DTN’s Landwatch Weekly, published by DTN/Progressive Farmer, highlights several notable transactions across LSB’s Midwest reporting states, along with neighboring Kansas.

State Highlights:

  • Iowa (Louisa County): A 125‑acre farm sold for $969,542, or $7,752 per acre, featuring CRP income exceeding $16,000 annually and multiple on‑farm improvements
  • Minnesota (Lincoln County): A 468‑acre farm sold for $6.2 million, or $13,248 per acre, supported by strong grain storage capacity and wind turbine income totaling $14,963 in 2024
  • Ohio (Allen County): A 116‑acre farm sold for $2 million, or $16,522 per acre, with multiple tracts supporting cattle, tillable acres and improved facilities
  • Kansas (Kingman County): A 322‑acre farm sold for $709,060, or $2,202 per acre, with a mix of cropland bases and a spring‑fed creek providing additional value

Read more from DTN/Progressive Farmer: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2026/08/27/recent-farmland-sales-iowa-kansas

DTN’s Landwatch Weekly, published by DTN/Progressive Farmer, highlights several notable transactions across LSB’s Midwest reporting states, along with neighboring Kansas

Inflation-Adjusted Midwest Farmland Values See Steepest Drop Since 2016

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 19, 2026

Midwest farmland values in our Midwest reporting states, showed their sharpest inflation-adjusted decline in a decade, according to the latest Chicago Fed AgLetter published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While nominal values for good farmland held steady year-over-year, real values fell 3.7 percent — the largest drop since 2016 . Lenders across the region also reported weakening credit conditions and rising repayment challenges.

Midwest State Highlights (LSB Reporting States):

  • Illinois: Year-over-year farmland values increased, supported partly by outside investment activity including solar and data centers.
  • Indiana: Farmland values decreased year-over-year as credit conditions weakened and repayment issues rose.
  • Iowa: Values increased year-over-year, though lenders noted commodity price volatility and elevated production expenses weighing on conditions.
  • Wisconsin: Values decreased year-over-year, with lenders noting outside pressure from solar and data center demand may eventually plateau.

Only 5 percent of lenders expect farmland values to rise in the next quarter, while 81 percent anticipate stability and 14 percent expect declines.

Publisher: Farm Policy News

Report link: https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/agletter/2025-2029/august-2026

Illinois Farmland Auction Underscores Strong Demand Across LSB’s Midwest Reporting Region

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthAugust 18, 2026

Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting state of Illinois continues to demonstrate strong buyer demand, highlighted by a recent 1,277‑acre sale near West Salem and Albion. The farm was divided into 22 tracts and sold for $10.5 million, attracting 68 in‑person bidders and 43 online participants and concluding in under an hour. Local farmers purchased most of the property, reinforcing the depth of Illinois’ agricultural buyer base within LSB’s Midwest region.

Summary Details

  • Dividing the farm into 22 tracts helped attract 12 buyers and maximize sale results.
  • Standing‑room‑only attendance and competitive bidding reflected strong market interest.
  • Half the acreage is expected to be farmed by new owners, with the remainder likely rented to local producers.
  • Productive soils, road frontage, timber, and wildlife habitat added both agricultural and recreational value.

Illinois Highlights

  • Most of the farm consisted of Class B soils with pockets of Class A and Class C, reflecting strong productivity across the acreage.
  • Edwards County continues to offer value opportunities compared with higher‑priced regions of central Illinois while maintaining a strong agricultural buyer base capable of absorbing large tracts of farmland.
  • Illinois farm real estate averaged $8,930 per acre in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of inflation‑adjusted increases.

Read more from Successful Farming: 1,277-acre Illinois Farm Sells in 22 Tracts for $10.5 Million

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