Peoples Perspective

Learn how to position your farmland for maximum profitability and long-term value. In this comprehensive guide, George Baird, AFM, AAC with Peoples Company Land Management, shares expert insights on assessing land potential, leveraging USDA programs, negotiating effective leases, and staying informed on ag economics. Discover tools like FarmWorth, custom mapping solutions, and farmland assessments to help landowners make confident, data-driven decisions.

When managing an estate, an appraisal plays a vital role in determining the fair market value of assets such as real estate and farmland. This valuation is essential for ensuring accurate tax calculations, fair inheritance distribution, and legal compliance. Understanding the appraisals' purpose can help protect family wealth and simplify the estate planning process.

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.

Midwest farmland values have long been a barometer of agricultural health, yet they are traditionally insulated from significant fluctuation caused by government policies or shifts in the general economy. As we move into 2025, many people believe that two government policies—tariffs and the recently enacted American Relief Act—are poised to influence these values in the near term. Here’s a quick look at how they might play out.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 50 tracts or 4,981 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during March 2025. The average dollar per acre was $12,597, the average dollar per tillable acre was $13,722, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $176.

Imagine holding a small, black pebble in your hand—about the size of a golf ball. Thanks to Kairos Power, I recently had the opportunity to do just that at the ROSA Energy conference. It doesn’t look like much, but this tiny nuclear fuel pebble contains as much energy as 4 tons of coal. That’s the kind of energy density nuclear power brings to the table.

As spring planting approaches, it's essential to understand key crop insurance dates and how they impact your coverage. Here’s a concise overview of important deadlines and guidelines to help you prepare.

Congratulations to Peoples Company agents Matt Adams, Lindsey Brown, Steve Bruere, Adam Crist, Jake Sickels, and Travis Smock for each winning the coveted Land Star Top Producer Award in 2024! Their dedication and hard work haven't gone unnoticed, and this award is a well‑deserved recognition of their exceptional achievements in the land real estate market.

In the March edition of the Landowner Insights series, Dr. Dave Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets is joined by Peoples Company land professionals Hunter Norland, Curtis Buono, and George Baird to discuss current market trends.

Peoples Company, a national leader in land brokerage, agricultural appraisal, land and energy management, crop insurance, and capital markets, received top land auction honors at the REALTORS® Land Institute’s APEX Award ceremony in Tucson, Arizona on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. The APEX Awards, held in conjunction with The Land Report, is a top annual awards program designed to recognize excellence and performance of land sale professionals.