Iowa farmland – Land Sales Bulletin

August Farmland Sales Snapshot Across the Midwest

Jennifer Moran | August 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

Iowa Farmland Market Setting Up for a Late‑Season Sales Surge

Jennifer Moran | July 27, 2026

As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, Iowa is showing early signs of a more active land market heading into late summer and fall. Here are the report highlights:

Iowa, one of LSB’s Midwest reporting states, may see a “flush of land sales” between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30.
Heirs who inherited land in 2024–25 may test the early‑season market before late fall and winter.
Demand continues to outpace supply statewide, keeping conditions seller‑friendly in 2026.
June Iowa sales showed strong pricing and competitive CSR2 ratios across multiple counties.
A brief pause is expected during peak harvest before another strong run of sales late in the year.

Recent June sales across Iowa reinforce that seller‑friendly environment, with strong prices and competitive CSR2 ratios observed in multiple counties. Market momentum is expected to pause briefly during peak harvest before another strong run late in the year. Source: Farm Progress
Author: Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Real Estate Services
Article Link: https://www.farmprogress.com/markets-and-quotes/surge-of-iowa-farmland-sales-likely-later-this-year

Landwatch Weekly: Recent Midwest Farmland Sales Across Iowa, Indiana & South Dakota

Jennifer Moran | July 24, 2026

Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch Weekly column continues to show steady strength across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting region. This week’s updates highlight positive momentum in Iowa, Indiana, and South Dakota, with strong per‑acre values and diversified land use driving buyer interest.

Midwest Highlights

Indiana – Wells County A 79‑acre farm sold for $24,050 per acre, supported by 52 acres of tillable ground and two residential homes.
Iowa – Allamakee County A 258‑acre multi‑tract sale averaged $16,750 per acre, with one premium tract reaching $27,400 per acre. Buyers were drawn to a mix of timber, tillable acres, recreational land, and Mississippi River views.
South Dakota – Brookings County A 40‑acre farm sold for $14,125 per acre, featuring strong cropland SPI (81.9), livestock paddocks, a residence, and a heated shop — a well‑rounded operational property.

These finalized sales reinforce continued confidence in high‑quality cropland, diversified land assets, and properties with strong residential or operational improvements across the Midwest.

Source: Progressive Farmer — Landwatch Weekly
Article Link: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2026/07/23/recent-farmland-sales-indiana-iowa

Midyear 2026 Farmland Values: Resilience Across Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Jennifer Moran | July 22, 2026

Benchmark farmland values across Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming remain flat to slightly higher in mid‑2026, according to Farm Credit Services of America’s July Benchmark Farmland Report. Values are supported by strong buyer financials and an already tight real estate market that saw even fewer sales in the first half of the year.

Iowa cropland dipped modestly, leaving overall benchmark values flat. Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming posted incremental gains across both cropland and pasture since January.

The report also highlights broader trends across grain and protein‑producing states served by collaborating Farm Credit associations, reinforcing long‑term appreciation and durable demand across the Midwest.

Iowa*

6‑month change: 0.0% | 1‑year change: ‑1.4%
5‑year change: 31.6% | 10‑year change: 51.1%

Nebraska*

6‑month change: +1.2% | 1‑year change: +3.2%
5‑year change: 42.9% | 10‑year change: 39.2%

South Dakota*

6‑month change: +4.2% | 1‑year change: +6.4%
5‑year change: 71.6% | 10‑year change: 61.8%

Wyoming

6‑month change: +2.7% | 1‑year change: +6.0%
5‑year change: 55.4% | 10‑year change: 99.6%

Market Context

Tight real estate supply and financially strong buyers continue to support values region‑wide
Benchmark values across all four states show significant long‑term appreciation, with ten‑year gains averaging nearly 100%

*Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting States

Full Report: Farmland Values 2026: Trends in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming | FCSAmerica

Midwest Farmland Sales: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota See Active Summer Markets

Jennifer Moran | July 13, 2026

Progressive Farmer’s Landwatch Weekly column highlights another week of active farmland sales across the Midwest. While Kansas is not part of Land Sales Bulletin’s official reporting region, its inclusion offers valuable context for our readers following regional trends. Strong demand, diverse property types, and notable per‑acre values were seen across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Highlights:

Iowa – Buchanan County: 51-acre farm sold for $1.7M, including a 39-acre cropland tract at $16,196/acre
Kansas – Barber County (non‑reporting state): 311-acre farm sold for $799,655 ($2,575/acre) with wheat, canola, and corn base acres plus pasture and ponds
Nebraska – Garden County: 523-acre recreational ranch sold for $1.2M ($2,296/acre) featuring ponds, pasture units, and a ranch home
South Dakota – Beadle County: 161-acre pastureland farm sold for $693,966 ($4,305/acre) with virgin sod and cropland conversion potential

See the full report and breakdown from Progressive Farmer: Recent Farmland Sales in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota

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

Dairy Investment Surges Across Key Midwest States During National Dairy Month

Jennifer Moran | June 18, 2026

June’s National Dairy Month arrives at a moment when several of our Midwest states are seeing major momentum in dairy processing investment. As processors look beyond traditional strongholds, states with growing milk supplies — including Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan — are emerging as strategic hubs for future capacity.

The article highlights Iowa’s return to the nation’s top 10 dairy states, driven by herd growth along the I‑29 corridor spanning western Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota. Wisconsin continues to draw significant investment, with more than $1.1 billion tied to its long‑standing leadership in cheese and whey production. Michigan also stands out, attracting $1.3 billion in new processing capacity as it leads the nation in milk per cow productivity.

As processors “follow the milk,” the Midwest’s expanding production base positions the region for continued growth — reinforcing the essential role our states play in the nation’s dairy landscape. Read more from Farm Progress – farm progress – the-new-dairy-gold-rush-which-states-see-investment-in-processing

Iowa Farmland Values Hold Steady as Key Market Factors Take Shape

Jennifer Moran | June 16, 2026

In a new analysis from Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Real Estate Services, Iowa enters the 2026 growing season on “stable legs” thanks to limited land supply and continued buyer demand. Hensley outlines three forces that will shape the direction of Iowa’s land market through the second half of the year: crop prospects, geopolitics, and interest rates.

Iowa farmers — who continue to purchase 70% to 75% of row‑crop farms offered to the market — remain closely tied to in‑season yield expectations, influencing how aggressive they are in bidding for land. Geopolitical variables, including China’s soybean demand and the economic ripple effects of the Iran conflict, add further uncertainty for commodity prices and farm‑level profitability. Meanwhile, interest rate direction remains a critical watchpoint as inflation pressures push borrowing costs higher.

Despite these moving parts, recent Iowa sales — from Sioux County’s $26,600/acre auction to strong CSR2‑adjusted prices across counties like Story, Cedar, and Marion — reinforce the market’s underlying stability. Farm Progress: Will stable Iowa land values continue? Watch these 3 factors

As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest reporting states, Iowa continues to demonstrate resilience, disciplined demand, and a market that rewards high‑quality farmland even in a complex economic environment.

Iowa Cash Rents Hold Steady in 2026 Despite Market Pressures

Jennifer Moran | June 3, 2026

Iowa’s 2026 cropland cash rents showed remarkable stability, landing at an average of $270 per acre, just $1 below 2025 levels. Despite lower commodity prices and elevated input costs, rental rates across high-, medium-, and low‑quality farmland saw only minor adjustments, mirroring the steadiness seen in recent land value surveys.

County‑level results reflected Iowa’s typical variability: 47 counties posted increases, 49 saw declines, and 3 remained unchanged. The highest average rents were reported in Sioux, Lyon, and Delaware counties, while Wayne, Lucas, and Davis recorded the lowest averages.

Looking ahead, improved season‑average price projections for corn and soybeans—supported by USDA’s May WASDE update—have contributed to a more optimistic outlook for 2026 crops. Futures markets are signaling some of the strongest price expectations in over a year, helping keep cash rents from moving sharply in either direction.

For landowners and operators across Iowa, these findings reinforce the value of using county‑level data as a starting point for 2027 lease discussions, while still tailoring agreements to productivity, drainage, fertility, and local market conditions. Farm Progress: https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-business/why-iowa-cropland-cash-rents-barely-budged-in-2026?

Southeast Iowa Farmland Auction Surges to $21,050 Per Acre

Jennifer Moran | April 29, 2026

A recent Louisa County auction underscored the continued strength of Iowa’s farmland market, with a 79‑acre tract selling for $21,050 per acre—well above the county’s average value of $11,632 per acre. The multi‑tract sale drew 46 registered bidders from at least 12 states, reflecting broad demand for high‑quality row‑crop ground paired with recreational timber.

The top‑selling tract featured a strong CSR2 of 88.4, appealing to both local and out‑of‑state buyers. Additional timber tracts, including parcels adjacent to the Cairo Woods Wildlife Area, also attracted competitive bidding.

As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s 10 Midwest reporting states, Iowa continues to demonstrate resilient buyer interest, with premium soils and recreational attributes driving strong results across the region. Read more from Successful Farming: Southeast Iowa Farmland Sells for $21,050 Per Acre, Draws Multi-State Bidding