Continuing with the Iowa Farmland Values blog series, we will use the 2020 Farmland Value Survey to highlight the average farmland characteristics and production costs in Pocahontas and Humboldt County. If you are interested in acquiring similar information, contact your local extension office or land grant institution within your state.

1 2019 ISU Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD)
2 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach File C2-10 in Ames, Iowa

Successful Sales in Pocahontas County, Iowa:

Of the 369,900 total acres in Pocahontas County, the average Corn Suitability Rating 2 (CSR2) for the 329,401 acres of farmland within the county is 81.2 with an average 2020 farmland value of $8,849 per acre, which is a 2.1% increase from $8,666 since 2019. To determine the CSR2 price per point average, divide the average farmland value ($8,849) by the Pocahontas County CSR2 average (81.2), which equals $108.98 per CSR2 point.

The average cash rent per tillable acre across Pocahontas County is $226 ($203-$251). The 2015-2019 average corn and soybean yield was 196 and 57 bushel per acre, respectively. The average rent per bushel of crop yield is calculated by cash rent divided by the average crop yield expected, which is $1.15 for corn and $3.96 for soybeans. 

The cap rate for Pocahontas County farmland is around 2.10%, or an expected return on investment of just over two percent.

1 2019 ISU Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD)
2 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach File C2-10 in Ames, Iowa

Successful Sales in Humboldt County, Iowa:

Of the 279,400 total acres in Humboldt County, the average Corn Suitability Rating 2 (CSR2) for the 239,534 acres of farmland within the county is 80.3 with an average 2020 farmland value of $8,732 per acre, which is a 1.3% increase from $8,623 since 2019. To determine the CSR2 price per point average, divide the average farmland value ($8,732) by the Humboldt County CSR2 average (80.3), which equals $108.74 per CSR2 point.

The average cash rent per tillable acre across Humboldt County is $218 ($188-$245). The 2015-2019 average corn and soybean yield was 193 and 56 bushel per acre, respectively. The average rent per bushel of crop yield is calculated by cash rent divided by the average crop yield expected, which is $1.13 for corn and $3.89 for soybeans. 

The cap rate for Humboldt County farmland is around 2.50% or an expected return on investment around two and a half percent.

To get in contact with someone about your Pocahontas and Humboldt County farm in Iowa, please contact Doug Bear (515.745.3192; Doug.Bear@PeoplesCompany.com) or Matt Adams (515.423.9235; Matt@PeoplesCompany.com).

DOWNLOAD Pocahontas County Details
DOWNLOAD Humboldt County Details

Tillable Acres for all Iowa counties are found HERE.