Land News
Farmland is an essential resource for American agriculture. As stewards of the land, farmers and ranchers strive to maximize per-acre value while prioritizing soil health, water conservation and wildlife management. A key indicator of the financial health of the farm sector, farmland values can be influenced by commodity prices, land quality and other factors.
In October 2023, Arkansas became the first state to ban foreign-owned farmland. More states look to adopt similar laws, but one policy expert says the issue is rooted in politics and warns of unintended consequences.
Steve Cubbage explores the true intentions behind foreign land ownership, and if it could be planting seeds of risk for our food security and national security.
The latest barometer, which is based on an economic sentiment survey of 400 agricultural producers each month, recorded a reading of 114 – down 1 point compared to a month earlier.
Tom Askjem disappears under farmland, descends to depths of 13’-plus, and returns to the surface with treasure—bottles and glassware from agriculture’s past.
The government seized control of John Yearwood’s ranchland in the name of a tiny bug. “There is no shame in Washington,” he says.
In October, USDA said the average value of U.S. cropland (irrigated and nonirrigated) was $5,460 an acre in 2023--an increase of 8.1% from 2022. High-quality ground is selling for two to three times that.
Peoples Company has released its fourth annual land values report with data broken into geographical regions across the U.S.
“We’re getting strong results. High interest rates and sub-$5 per bushel corn is not affecting land market conditions,” says Jim Rothermich from Iowa Appraisal.
North Dakota auction company announces new record-high land sale for cropland in the northeast corner of the state at $17,500 per acre, while in Iowa farmland sales are starting to cool off.
Aerial Rug and Boundri use satellite imagery to create custom farm products - the most popular being rugs.
Two organizations share why we may see a decline in cash rent values in 2024.
The results of the Realtors Land Institute - Iowa Chapter’s September Land Trends and Values Survey show a decline in the rate of land value increase.
Fractal pairs farmers wanting to expand their operations with hands-off investors who recognize the value of farmland.
There’s a new record farmland sale on the books. After a 15-min. bidding war between two area farmers, the gavel fell at $34,800 per acre, which is $4,800 more than the previous record set in November 2022 in Iowa.
Doug Hensley from Hertz Real Estate answers the question, “How much do crop prices impact the decision-making process of farmland buyers” and shares how this year is shaping up to be a bit busier than anticipated.
“People sometimes refer to farmland as an investment in gold, plus a coupon,” Bruce Sherrick says. “You get a fairly low annual cash flow, fairly high long-term rates of return and tax advantages to the asset classes.”
“If I were picking both from a financial and an emotional perspective, the next place I could put a dollar, I still would favor farmland pretty highly,” Bruce Sherrick says.
A mid-year report from Farmers National shows land values are increasing by single digits instead of the double digits common in 2021-22. But the company says it has a strong roster of listings headed into late summer.
John Phipps says there are signs that water is the new oil as water rights turn into water fights across the western U.S. He thinks it’s a battle that could only heat up in the coming years.
Court Justice Samuel Alito said the EPA’s interpretation of its powers went “too far.”
Roughly 37.6 million acres of U.S. ag land is foreign owned, according to USDA. However, select purchases of U.S. land could come to an end following a Senate vote this week.
The Farmland Security Act of 2023 seeks to further boost transparency in foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
The rural economy seems to be set on cruise in neutral gear. That’s according to the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University.
This year marks the second-largest increase in the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska since 2014 and the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the 45-year history of the survey.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) introduced an act to prevent foreign adversaries from exploiting U.S. land near security sites, and would push a review of current ownership in these areas.
Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.
Under the bill, the USDA and the FDA would become members of CFIUS and their powers would be expanded to better consider ag needs when it decides if a purchase would create national security risks.
Iowa State researchers find this is the state’s highest level of farmland owned debt-free. In 1982, Iowa’s debt-free land ownership was only 62%.
Despite the positive sentiment, local community bankers report concerns about lower commodity prices, the ‘big bank mess’ and another potential rate hike in June by the Fed.
Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.