Iowa Farmland Values – Land Sales Bulletin

Recent Farmland Sales Highlight Activity Across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Jennifer Moran | October 17, 2026

October’s farmland market delivered another round of finalized sales across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states of Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin, with neighboring Missouri also posting a notable result. DTN Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch update provides a clear snapshot of regional demand, soil productivity, and buyer interest.

Key Highlights

Iowa — Dallas County recorded a 351-acre auction selling in three tracts for $3.7 million averaging $11,033 per acre The property includes a 158-acre parcel with a soil productivity rating of 83.3 and balanced corn and soybean base acres Additional tracts include a 112-acre parcel with strong corn and soybean yields and an 81-acre tract with a soil productivity index of 88.4
Missouri (Neighboring) — Pettis County reported a 96-acre online auction selling for $678,476 averaging $7,100 per acre The farm is 86% tillable with a soil productivity index of 67.1 and includes wildlife habitat with deer and turkey hunting opportunities
North Dakota — Kidder County saw a 160-acre online auction selling for $528,000 averaging $3,300 per acre The property is currently used for hay with a soil productivity index of 39.9 and supports habitat for waterfowl and upland birds in the prairie pothole region
Wisconsin — Dane County recorded an 82-acre auction selling for $1.1 million averaging $13,125 per acre The farm includes 76 tillable acres with a soil productivity index of 77.8 and 6 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program until 2033

Read the full DTN Progressive Farmer article: Landwatch Weekly Recent Farmland Sales in Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and Wisconsin

October Farmland Sales Highlight Strength Across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Jennifer Moran | October 15, 2026

October delivered another month of strong finalized farmland sales across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and South Dakota, with neighboring Missouri also posting a notable result. DTN Progressive Farmer’s latest Landwatch Report provides a clear snapshot of regional momentum and buyer confidence.

Key Highlights

Illinois — Woodford County recorded strong demand, including a 143-acre sale averaging $17,483 per acre and a 62-acre tract reaching $19,250 per acre
Indiana — Allen County saw a 92-acre multi-tract sale averaging $18,478 per acre supported by highly productive tillable parcels and solid yield history
Iowa — Dallas County posted one of the month’s largest transactions with 482 acres averaging $12,033 per acre and a soil productivity index of 83
Ohio — Clinton County led in total acreage with 1,341 acres selling for $11.4 million averaging $8,501 per acre across 16 tracts with extensive building improvements
South Dakota — Deuel County’s 125-acre sale averaged $10,400 per acre supported by strong corn and soybean yield bases and a soil productivity index of 89.2
Missouri (Neighboring) — Pettis County reported a 60-acre sale averaging $6,040 per acre reflecting mixed-use potential with tillable acres pasture timber and a farmhouse

Read the full DTN Progressive Farmer article: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2026/10/01/october-2026-recent-farmland-sales

Federal Reserve’s 7th District Shows Flattening Farmland Values as Credit Pressures Rise

Jennifer Moran | September 14, 2026

Farmland values across the Federal Reserve’s 7th District held steady in the second quarter of 2024, marking the slowest growth since late 2024, according to Farm Progress reporting based on a survey of 79 agricultural lenders . The district covers several of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, including Iowa, northern Illinois, Indiana, southern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s lower peninsula .

Highlights

Iowa led the region with a 4% annual gain in farmland values .
Illinois posted a modest 1% increase, while Indiana values declined 3% and Wisconsin fell 2% .
When adjusted for inflation, district farmland values declined 3.71% year over year, the largest real drop since Q3 2016 .
Non‑ag buyers, including solar and data center developers, continue influencing land markets across the Midwest states .
Credit concerns are mounting, with major or severe repayment problems rising to 3.7% of district farm loans, the highest level since 2020 .
Not a single lender reported improved repayment rates compared to last year, and 27% indicated repayment rates are declining .

Farmland values may be flattening, but credit pressures are building across the Midwest. For LSB’s reporting states, the combination of stable nominal values and rising financial stress underscores the importance of monitoring both land markets and lending conditions heading into 2027.

Listen or Read more from Farm Progress: https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-business/farmland-values-flatten-as-credit-concerns-mount

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

Jennifer Moran | August 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

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

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

Eastern Wisconsin Farmland Values Rise with Dairy Demand

Jennifer Moran | August 21, 2026

Compeer Financial’s latest report from author Jeff Jens highlights one of the strongest year over year increases in our Midwest region. Dairy operators continue to compete for nearby cropland, tightening supply and supporting premium prices across eastern Wisconsin. As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s valued customers, Compeer Financial provides essential insight into the market forces shaping farmland values across our Midwest states.

Midwest State Highlights

Wisconsin: limited cropland availability and strong dairy demand continue to push values higher. Calumet County benchmark cropland rose about 25 percent year over year, with multiple 2026 sales exceeding $20,000 per acre and one reaching $24,000 per acre.
Minnesota: dairy influenced competition persists in regions where feed production and facility upgrades mirror Wisconsin’s operational needs.
Iowa: strong livestock sectors and tight supply of high-quality cropland continue to support firm operator driven values across the state.

Key Market Drivers

Nearby cropland helps dairies control long term operational costs by reducing hauling distance for feed and manure.
Limited land availability in east central Wisconsin ensures strong buyer competition whenever quality acres come to market.
Dairy facility upgrades and multi-site operations continue across the region, influenced by construction costs and long-term growth planning.
Solar, wind, and data center development add complexity to rural land markets and can redirect capital into agricultural purchases elsewhere.

Compeer Financial’s full report provides deeper context on how dairy economics, construction costs and broader market pressures continue to shape land values across Wisconsin and the Midwest. Listen or read the full article by Jeff Jens: https://www.compeer.com/articles/wisconsin-farmland-values-rise-with-dairy-demand

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