Iowa land values Archives - Land Sales Bulletin

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

Iowa Farmland Auctions Bring More Than 2,700 Acres to Market in July

Jennifer Moran | June 29, 2026

Iowa’s farmland market enters July with more than 2,700 acres scheduled for auction across 16 counties. Listings range from small 3‑acre tracts to multiparcel offerings nearing 780 acres, underscoring steady demand in one of Land Sales Bulletin’s core Midwest reporting states.

Poweshiek County leads early activity with 392 acres selling July 10 across three tracts, all rented for the 2026 crop year.
In northwest Iowa, Pocahontas County brings 775 acres across nine tracts with CSR2 values ranging 80–85.2 in an online‑only auction ending July 15.
Fremont County follows with a 143.99‑acre offering featuring a weighted CSR2 of 83.4 and $17,700 in 2026 cash‑rent income to the buyer.

Statewide, at least 13 additional auctions are expected, with most located south of US‑20. Iowa’s farmland values have increased 1.3% over the past six months, signaling cautious optimism among producers and investors. Read more from Successful Farming: More Than 2700 Acres of Iowa Farmland Head to Auction in July 2026

More than 2,700 Acres of Iowa Farmland head to Auction this July 2026

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.

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

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?

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.

Farmland Values Across the Upper Midwest

Jennifer Moran | April 8, 2026

Farmland values across the Upper Midwest continue to be defined by one theme: stability. Despite tighter margins and higher production costs, producers in our Midwest reporting states of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota remain supported by strong balance sheets and historically limited land supply.

The article highlights meaningful differences across the region. Iowa is seeing lower auction volume and modest softening in returns. Nebraska remains steady, with high‑quality tracts still drawing strong interest. South Dakota stands out as the exception, posting increased sales activity and double‑digit gains in pastureland values over the past year.

Local buyers continue to dominate the market, and financing is becoming a more common strategic tool. With supply still constrained and fundamentals holding firm, the Midwest land market remains balanced and resilient — a story where stability itself is the headline. Farm Progress: Here’s the secret to steady farmland values

Farmland Values Hold Firm Across the Midwest Despite Weaker Farm Finances

Jennifer Moran | March 26, 2026

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: americanfarmlan d owner.com

Iowa farmland values remain remarkably steady

Jennifer Moran | February 20, 2026

Despite persistently low commodity prices and a sluggish start to the year, land values across our Midwest state of Iowa remain remarkably steady. Limited supply continues to be the defining force, with few acres coming to market and a consistent pool of farmer‑buyers and long‑term investors keeping demand firm. Interest rates have held in a narrow range, and without a major shift in supply or buyer appetite, experts expect values to continue moving sideways. Recent sales across multiple counties in our Midwest reporting state show strong support for quality acres and a land market that continues to “chop sideways.” Read more from Farm Progress: Why ‘boring’ isn’t bad for steady Iowa farmland values

Iowa Farmland Market Update: Q4 2025 Results are In

Jennifer Moran | February 19, 2026

Peoples Company has released the latest stats for Iowa agricultural land. While the market continues to shift, high-quality tracts remain a focal point for investors and operators alike in our Midwest reporting state.

The Q4 Numbers:

Average Price: $12,975/Acre
Price per Tillable Acre: $14,542
Price per CSR2 Point: $181
Volume: 436 tracts sold (35,698 total acres)

Find the full breakdown by district and the latest insights on our Midwest state of Iowa in their their full report: Iowa Land Values Update | 2025 Quarter 4