Farmland Values Hold Firm Across the Midwest Despite Weaker Farm Finances

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthMarch 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: americanfarmlandowner.com

Midwest Farmland Values – “The Selective Strength” Era

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthMarch 24, 2026

Nick Westgerdes, AFM, owner of New Roots Farm Brokerage, shares specialized farmland value insights and management reports for our Midwest reporting states of Illinois and Wisconsin. As the current President-Elect of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA), his recent 2026 reports highlight a “resilient” but evolving market using our Illinois and Wisconsin land sales data. New Roots Farm Brokerage – Client Driven & Farm Focused.

Midwest farmland values ended 2025 with resilient growth

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthFebruary 17, 2026

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago AgLetter No. 2011, February 2026 – Our Midwest reporting states farmland values ended 2025 on solid footing.

• +6% annual increase across the Seventh District
• Q4 values up 2% • IL, IN, IA, WI all posted single‑digit gains
• Credit conditions tightened, but interest rates eased

Read more: https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/agletter/2025-2029/february-2026. Land Sales Bulletin’s Midwest sales data demonstrates the strong demand for high‑quality tracts, reinforcing the Chicago Fed’s findings.

Midwest Farmland: Rising Values Amid Credit Challenges

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthDecember 8, 2025

Midwest farmland for our reporting states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin continues to prove its resilience, with values climbing 3% over the past year. Yet, beneath the optimism lies a tightening credit environment that could reshape the landscape for buyers and investors. While some states are seeing stronger gains than others, the overall trend underscores farmland’s enduring role as a cornerstone of Midwest wealth and investment. Read more from American Farmland Owner – Land Values Report Shows Increase for Key Midwest States

American Farmland Owner - Land Values Report Shows Increase for Key Midwest States

Midwest Farmland Values Moved Up Modestly in the Third Quarter

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthNovember 14, 2025

“According to the most recent AgLetter, Seventh District farmland values in the third quarter of 2025 were 3% higher than a year ago.” Read more on the land values for our Midwest reporting states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin: Midwest Farmland Values Moved Up Modestly in the Third Quarter – Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Download their full report: Ag Letter No 2010 November 2025 Full Publication

Flat but Firm Farmland Values: What’s Driving Today’s Market

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthAugust 25, 2025

Compeer Financial shares farmland values “remain firm in 2025 – but multiple factors could shift the market in the months ahead” for our Midwest reporting states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Find a break down by state trends, key factors influencing farmland values, and explore current indicators for the remainder of 2025. Read their full article: Compeer Financial: Flat but firm farmland values 8-2025

Compeer Financial Flat but Firm Farmland Values 8-4-2025

Ag Land Values Mostly Stable Through First Half of 2025

accountMktgLSB | 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

The Good and the Bad: What a Recent Survey Says About the Ag Economy

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthJuly 3, 2025

American Farmland Owner shares details from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s latest Ag Credit Survey. The Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank Ninth District includes our Midwest reporting states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Although land values continue to climb, the survey reveals a “mixed bag” of outcomes in the farm economy across our Midwest. Learn more here: The Good and the Bad: What A Recent Survey Says About the Ag Economy

First Quarter Midwest Farmland Values Moved Up Slightly from a Year Ago

accountMktgLSB | calendar-monthMay 16, 2025

The first quarter of 2025, the Seventh District, comprised of our Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin, saw farmland values 1% higher than a year ago. “Values for ‘good’ agricultural land in the first quarter of 2025 were 4% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2024.” Learn more in the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago AgLetter, No. 2008, May 2025 – AgLetter No 2008 May 2025