Illinois land values – Land Sales Bulletin

Illinois Farm Real Estate Values Rise for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Jennifer Moran | August 25, 2026

Illinois farm real estate values continued their upward trend in 2026, marking the sixth straight year of gains. According to the latest USDA NASS Land Values Summary, Illinois reached an average of $9,250 per acre in 2026, a 3.6 percent increase over 2025. This steady growth aligns with broader Corn Belt movement, where LSB;s Midwest and neighboring states also posted moderate increases.

Midwest State Highlights

Illinois: $9,250 per acre in 2026, up 3.6 percent from 2025; sixth consecutive annual increase
Iowa: 3.2 percent increase; highest regional value at $10,100 per acre
Indiana: 3.4 percent increase
Missouri: 4.0 percent increase
Ohio: 3.2 percent increase; second highest value at $9,650 per acre

Illinois previously held the top position in 2021, but stronger gains in Iowa and Ohio over the last five years have shifted regional rankings.

Full Report from: farmdoc daily, University of Illinois: https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/08/illinois-farm-real-estate-values-increase-six-years-in-a-row.html

Inflation-Adjusted Midwest Farmland Values See Steepest Drop Since 2016

Jennifer Moran | August 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

Second Quarter Farmland Values Hold Steady Across the Midwest

Jennifer Moran | August 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

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

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

Illinois Farmland Sales Hold Steady in Q1 as Smaller Tracts Lead the Way

Jennifer Moran | June 1, 2026

Illinois farmland sales remained steady through the first quarter of 2026, with more than 10,190 acres changing hands and total reported sales topping $103.5 million. Most transactions clustered between $10,000 and $13,000 per acre, reflecting a balanced, stable market despite broader economic pressures.

One of the most notable trends was the continued strength of smaller tracts under 80 acres, which averaged $11,443 per acre, outpacing larger farms by roughly $640 per acre. Local farmers remained the dominant buyers, accounting for 57% of purchases statewide.

Top-end parcels continued to command premiums, with several sales exceeding $20,000 per acre in counties such as Hancock, Effingham, and Christian. While market signals point to ongoing volatility, Illinois farmland values overall remain supported by strong local demand and consistent pricing. Successful Farming: Illinois Farmland Sales Top $103 Million in Q1 as Small Tracts Outpace Larger Farms

As always, Land Sales Bulletin, reporting finalized land sales across its 10‑state Midwest region—including Illinois—continues to track these trends to keep buyers, sellers, and advisors informed.

Midwest Farmland Values Hold Firm as 2026 Begins: Insights from the Chicago Fed’s Q1 AgLetter

Jennifer Moran | May 15, 2026

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.

Illinois Farmland Auctions Surpass $40 Million in March

Jennifer Moran | April 28, 2026

Illinois farmland sales remained strong in March 2026, with more than 4,100 acres changing hands and total transactions exceeding $40.4 million. Activity spanned key agricultural counties including Grundy, Hancock, and McLean, where high-quality Class A tracts continued to draw competitive bidding from both local operators and investors.

Notable sales included two 120.52‑acre tracts in Grundy County that sold for $16,900 per acre, reflecting strong demand for highly productive soils with PI ratings above county averages. In Hancock County, a 138.69‑acre tract sold for $7,775 per acre, supported by strong organic matter and fertility advantages. McLean County saw 72.55 acres sell for $15,600 per acre, backed by strong yield history and solid soil productivity.

Market analysts note that despite higher interest rates and elevated input costs, Illinois farmland values remain resilient. Limited supply, strong balance sheets, and steady investor interest continue to support pricing across the state—one of Land Sales Bulletin’s 10 Midwest reporting states. Read more from Successful Farming: Illinois Farmland Auctions Bring Over $40 Million in March

Illinois Farmland Auctions Bring Over $40 Million in March - Successful Farming 4-23-2026

Illinois Farmland Values Expected to Ease in 2026

Jennifer Moran | April 27, 2026

Illinois farm managers expect farmland values to soften slightly in 2026, with most anticipating a 1%–5% decline and some projecting up to 10%. According to the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, excellent farmland averaged $15,846 per acre in 2025, down 3% from the prior year, while good‑quality land held steady. Recreational land, however, saw an 11% increase.

Shifts in cash rent expectations, tighter farmer liquidity, and broader economic pressures—including fertilizer costs and global conflict—are shaping the outlook. As Illinois remains a core state within Land Sales Bulletin’s 10‑state Midwest reporting region, readers can track verified sales and market trends across the region with consistent, county‑level detail.

Read more: Steady to small decrease expected for farmland values – AgriNews