Blog
February 25, 2025
WEBINAR | The Power of Energy Management: Unleashing Potential (March 2025)
Please join Peoples Company for "The Power of Energy Management: Unleashing Potential" webinar series with special guest speaker Craig Kaiser, President & Co-Founder at LandGate.
February 24, 2025
The Role of Agricultural Appraisers in Land Transactions
When it comes to buying, selling, or managing agricultural land, accurate valuation is essential. Agricultural appraisers play a crucial role in ensuring that farmland transactions are conducted fairly and transparently. Their expertise helps buyers, sellers, financial institutions, and investors make informed decisions. This article explores the role of agricultural appraisers, their methods of valuation, and why their work is critical in land transactions.
February 20, 2025
Timberland as an Investment Strategy: A Long-Term Asset for Growth and Stability
Timberland as an investment strategy offers a unique combination of long-term value, inflation resistance, and income generation. Unlike stocks or bonds, timberland provides returns through biological tree growth, land appreciation, and timber sales, making it an attractive option for diversification. Challenges include market volatility, environmental risks, and liquidity issues, requiring strategic investment planning.
February 11, 2025
Peoples Company Acquires Midwest Land Company and Roach Land Management
Peoples Company, a recognized leader in integrated land management, brokerage, appraisal, and energy solutions with offices across the nation, today announced it has acquired Wayne, Neb.-based Midwest Land Company and Plainfield, Iowa-based Roach Land Management. All clients from both firms have transitioned to Peoples Company, which is actively managing farmland in all major ag regions in the country.
February 6, 2025
Land Auction Results | January 2025
The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 76 tracts or 6,614 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during January 2025. The average dollar per acre was $11,295, the average dollar per tillable acre was $13,808, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $180.
February 3, 2025
The Balancing Act: Landowner and Farmer Goals on Rented Land
Finding opportunities to maximize production on each farm while also protecting valuable natural resources is the core business of Peoples Company’s Land Management Team. What makes our work especially rewarding and challenging is that there is no simple solution to guarantee success. Even when a landowner and tenant farmer both want what is best for the farm, they may not see eye to eye on how to get there.
January 31, 2025
Trump's Energy Revolution: What His First Day in Office Means for Oil, Gas, and Renewables
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump initiated his second term with a series of executive actions aimed at reshaping U.S. energy policy. These decisions marked a significant departure from the previous administration's focus on renewable energy and climate change mitigation.
January 30, 2025
Integrating AI Technologies into the Appraisal Process at Peoples Company
Peoples Company continues to lead the way in innovation within the agricultural real estate industry by exploring advanced technologies that enhance efficiency while maintaining the professionalism expected in our appraisal services. As part of this ongoing effort, we are in the testing phase of integrating AI technologies into our workflow. These tools have shown potential to streamline repetitive tasks, improve organization, and ensure precision in reporting. While AI plays a supportive role, the expertise and responsibility of certified appraisers remain central to every valuation.
Blog Categories
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Peoples Company proactively works to anticipate the needs of those in the agricultural sector. Our monthly email publication keeps readers in the know about everything land.
January 28, 2025
Peoples Company Acquires Leading Illinois Farm Management Firm, Land Pro LLC
Peoples Company, a recognized leader in integrated land management, brokerage, appraisal, and energy solutions with offices across the nation, announced it has acquired Oswego-based Land Pro LLC. Effective on January 1, 2025, Land Pro LLC, its owner Ray Brownfield, and members of the Land Pro LLC staff became an affiliate of Peoples Company, harnessing the technology, expertise and capital markets resources of Peoples Company, while continuing to operate under the Land Pro LLC name. The acquisition grows Peoples Company’s presence in Illinois, having acquired The Atkins Group’s farmland management business and opening an Urbana, Illinois, office in March 2024.
January 28, 2025
Landowner Insights Webinar | January 2025
In the January edition of the Landowner Insights series, Dr. Dave Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets covers key takeaways from the market over the past year, the regional view of farm incomes for 2025 and potential impacts and uncertainty from policy changes.
January 15, 2025
Peoples Company Acquires Lincoln-based United Farm and Ranch Management
Peoples Company, a recognized leader in integrated land management, brokerage, appraisal, and energy solutions with offices across the nation, today announced it acquired Lincoln-based United Farm and Ranch Management (UFARM). UFARM, a nearly 100-year-old land management company, will add 15 employees and four offices, along with more than 90,000 acres of farm and ranch land under management, to Peoples Company's growing team and portfolio.
January 9, 2025
National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries Farmland Returns: 30+ Years of Evidence about Farmland as an Investment Class
Interest in real estate and other alternative or Alt-investments has increased substantially in the past couple of years. Forbes magazine, for example, reported that the share of financial advisors recommending Alts to their clients increased from 25% in 2020 to 55% in 2024 (Fred Hubler, 9/10/2024). Among these, agricultural real estate has stood out because of the understood positive correlation with inflation, low correlation with equity returns, and low risk of capital loss with relatively consistent income.
January 8, 2025
Iowa Land Values Update | 2024 Quarter 4
Peoples Company tracks agricultural auctions across the state of Iowa. From this data, we calculate the average dollar per CSR2 point ($/CSR2) for sales of tracts with greater than 85% tillable land. Additionally, these tracts are largely unimproved or include minimal improvement contribution.
January 8, 2025
Land Auction Results | December 2024
The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 90 tracts or 8,791 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during December 2024. The average dollar per acre was $11,076, the average dollar per tillable acre was $12,329, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $175.
December 31, 2024
Should I List or Auction My Farm? A Comprehensive Guide for 2024 and Beyond
When contemplating whether or not they are ready to sell a farm, one of the first questions a landowner will likely have is: “Should I list or auction my farm?” It’s a crucial decision that can significantly impact their financial future. As we close out 2024 and set our sights on 2025, understanding the pros and cons of each selling method is vital for making an informed choice. As a land professional that specializes in brokerage and auctions, I’m here to guide you through the options available, helping you determine the best path for your unique situation.
December 31, 2024
The Gift of Balance: A Holiday Energy Blend
This holiday season, energy sources of all kinds come together like the perfect holiday mix—each playing a vital role in making our celebrations merry and bright. Oil, gas, and renewables may seem like they’re competing on Santa’s energy list, but they work hand in hand to keep the holidays powered, warm, and sustainable. Together, they’re the ultimate holiday energy blend, ensuring families across the country enjoy a season filled with light, warmth, and joy.
December 20, 2024
2024 National Land Values Webinar
Peoples Company unveils our fifth annual National Land Values Report featuring data-driven research on current farmland values across the nation, trends that may impact future values, and practical stories from around the country.
December 13, 2024
Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges and Year-End Tax Planning
The Section 1031 like-kind exchange is a powerful tool used by business owners, investors and others to transition real property assets into new assets that may more appropriately meet their needs. When exchanges occur near year-end, the following exchange-related issues and planning matters should be kept in mind.
December 12, 2024
How AI is Transforming U.S. Energy Demand: Challenges and Opportunities
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries across the United States, driving innovation and efficiency like never before. However, this rapid integration of AI technologies comes with a significant impact on energy demand. As AI-powered applications become more prevalent—from data centers to autonomous vehicles—their energy consumption is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Understanding how AI influences energy demand is critical to addressing its challenges and seizing opportunities for a sustainable energy future.
December 11, 2024
WEBINAR | The Power of Energy Management: Unleashing Potential (December 2024)
Please join Peoples Company for the latest installment of our webinar series "The Power of Energy Management: Unleashing Potential" with speakers Buford Boyd Pollett, Jackson Frailey, Anna Buongiorno, and Matt Autry.
