Wisconsin Land Values – Land Sales Bulletin

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

Second Quarter Farmland Values Hold Steady Across the Midwest

Jennifer Moran | August 14, 2026

Midwest farmland values were unchanged in the second quarter of 2026 according to AgLetter, No. 2013, August 2026 from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While overall District values were flat year over year, the report shows a mixed picture across Land Sales Bulletin’s core Midwest reporting states.

Key summary points

Illinois farmland values posted year-over-year gains.
Iowa also recorded increases, supported in part by investment activity tied to data centers and renewable energy projects.
Indiana farmland values declined compared with last year.
Wisconsin saw year-over-year decreases and lenders noted expectations that values may plateau as outside pressures ease

Credit conditions across the District weakened, with repayment challenges rising to their highest level since 2020. Lenders also reported lower repayment rates and higher renewals and extensions on non-real-estate farm loans.

Read the full report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/agletter/2025-2029/august-2026

Wisconsin Farmland Values in 2026: Stability Driven by Supply, Equity, and Local Demand

Jennifer Moran | May 21, 2026

Our Midwest reporting state of Wisconsin farmland values in 2026 remain remarkably steady, even after several years of rapid appreciation. Peoples Company’s recent analysis shows the market has shifted into a phase that is stable, disciplined, and highly localized.

Despite expectations of a correction due to higher interest rates and tighter margins, values across much of the state have held firm. The key stabilizers: limited supply, strong owner equity, and continued demand for high‑quality parcels.

Inventory remains the defining force. Generational ownership patterns and strong financial positions have kept many high‑quality tillable acres off the open market, reducing transaction volume across Wisconsin’s agricultural counties. When productive, well‑located parcels do list, competition is intense — especially among local operators seeking strategic expansion opportunities.

Interest rates have influenced buyer behavior but have not weakened values. Well‑capitalized buyers remain active, relying less on leverage and focusing more on operational fit and long‑term efficiency.

Quality differentiation is widening. Soil productivity, access, drainage, field configuration, and proximity to existing operations are now major determinants of value potential, with top‑tier parcels commanding clear premiums. Read more: Wisconsin Farmland Values in 2026: What’s Driving the Market

For Wisconsin landowners, 2026 remains a historically favorable environment — but outcomes increasingly depend on location, accurate pricing, and hyper‑local market knowledge. As Land Sales Bulletin continues to report verified sales across the Midwest, Wisconsin stands out as a market driven by fundamentals rather than speculation.

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 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

Midwest Farmland Values – “The Selective Strength” Era

Jennifer Moran | March 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

Jennifer Moran | February 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

Jennifer Moran | December 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

Jennifer Moran | November 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