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

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 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

Summer 2026 Farmland Values: Stability Across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota & Nebraska

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 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

Nebraska: A Key State in Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest Reporting Region

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthMay 12, 2026

Nebraska remains a core part of Land Sales Bulletin’s 10‑state Midwest reporting region, with recent sales activity underscoring a familiar theme across the state: strong buyer demand and limited supply. Farmland listings remain scarce, and that tight inventory continues to support values even as commodity margins shift.
Landowners are cautious to sell, buyers remain active, and professionally marketed farms are moving quickly — a dynamic reflected in this month’s representative sales.

Recent Verified Sales Across Three Nebraska Counties

  • Saline County (Southeast) — 237.79 acres sold for $4,850/acre
    • 219.08 tillable acres across two parcels
    • Mix of flat and gently rolling cropland
    • Working corral and pen facilities included
  • Lancaster County (East) — 75.16 acres sold for $8,800/acre
    • More than 96% tillable, with a four‑year lime program applied before 2024 planting
    • Geological and hydrological reports suggest irrigation potential in the northeast corner (no test drilling yet)
  • Pierce County (Northeast) — Two‑tract sale
    • Tract 1: 160 acres at $4,300/acre; 129.9 certified irrigated acres; includes 2012 Zimmatic pivot and irrigation equipment
    • Tract 2: 320 acres at $5,300/acre; 267.48 certified irrigated acres; includes two 2007 pivots, gearhead, and updated well components

These transactions highlight the diversity of Nebraska’s land base — from high‑quality tillable acres in the east to pivot‑irrigated tracts in the northeast — and reinforce the value of consistent, verified reporting across the Midwest. Read more from Farm Progress: Land in Demand but not much supply on the Market

Subscribers can explore full sale details, historical trends, and county‑level data through Land Sales Bulletin’s reports and digital tools.

Nebraska Farmland Values Show Mixed Movement in 2026

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthApril 21, 2026

Nebraska remains a key state within Land Sales Bulletin’s 10‑state Midwest reporting region, and the latest preliminary data from the 2026 University of Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey reflects a market adjusting to tighter margins and shifting sector strength.

Statewide farmland values dipped 1% to $3,905 per acre, marking the second consecutive year of decline as crop producers face narrower margins and softer receipts. In contrast, grazing and hay land values rose 4% to 7%, supported by strong cattle prices and historically low cow herd numbers.

Regional differences remain notable:

  • East District continues to lead at $9,315/acre (down 1%).
  • North Region saw the strongest gains, up 4%.
  • Southeast District posted the largest decline at –3%.

Cash rents followed similar patterns, with cropland rents slipping 1% to 9% depending on land type, while pasture rents strengthened.

As one of Land Sales Bulletin’s core Midwest reporting states, Nebraska’s evolving land values, rental trends, and sector‑specific pressures continue to shape the broader regional story. The final UNL report, expected in June, will add detail on land grades, transaction characteristics, and auction trends. Read more from Farm Progress: Average Nebraska farmland values drop for second straight year

Farmland Values Across the Upper Midwest

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthApril 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

Nebraska Farmland Values Hold Steady Amid Market Shifts

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthMarch 19, 2026

Our Midwest state of Nebraska continues to demonstrate why it remains a cornerstone of Midwest farmland performance. According to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s latest survey, the statewide all‑land average value sits at $3,905 per acre in 2026, a modest 1% decline from the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year of slight softening after Nebraska reached a record high in 2024.

Survey respondents point to lower commodity prices, higher input costs, and elevated interest rates as the primary pressures on land values. Even so, Nebraska’s market remains resilient, with grazing land and hayland values rising 4–7% statewide, supported by strong cattle prices and competition for pasture. Irrigated and dryland cropland values saw small declines, generally between 1–3% depending on land class and region. Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report | Center for Agricultural Profitability | Nebraska

For those tracking Nebraska’s land market closely, two reports are now available for download:

These insights complement what Land Sales Bulletin continues to document across its 10‑state Midwest region: tight supply, strong buyer competition for quality acres, and a market that remains steady even as financial conditions shift.

Nebraska Farmland Prices — 2024 vs. 2025 Market Update

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthDecember 31, 2025

Whitaker Marketing Group Auctions and Real Estate continues its expansion and services into our Midwest reporting state of Nebraska. If you’re evaluating your land’s position in today’s market, data‑driven insights and local expertise remain key to making informed decisions. Don’t miss their Nebraska Farmland Prices — 2024 vs. 2025 Market Update highlighted below:

Nebraska’s farmland market softened in 2025. Average prices dipped 4.35%, total sales volume fell nearly 20%, and fewer acres hit the market statewide. Buyer selectivity and reduced urgency shaped a more cautious, balanced land market across Nebraska. View the full report here: Nebraska Farmland Prices: 2024 vs 2025 Market Update

Ag Land Values Mostly Stable Through First Half of 2025

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthJuly 25, 2025

This latest FarmDoc Daily Policy News Summary looks at ag land values through the first 6 months of 2025. Find the 6-Month Average Benchmark Land Values Change for our Midwest states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Key contributors and findings include land value reports from Farmers National Company and Farm Credit Services of America. Read their full report here – Ag Land Values Mostly Stable Through First Half of 2025 – Farm Policy News

Nebraska ag land values decline as farm finances tighten

accountJennifer Moran | calendar-monthMarch 17, 2025

According to preliminary findings published on March 12, in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2024-25 Farm Real Estate Market Survey, Nebraska’s agricultural land values declined for the first time in six years. Learn more on the factors contributing to the current land values in our Midwest reporting state, in this University of Nebraska Today report – https://conta.cc/3Y078QL

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