Peoples Perspective

It is mud season for many of us across the country. That time of year where winter is coming to an end and warmer temperatures are more consistent. The ground thawing and snow melting combined with spring rains creates a muddy, slippery environment.

The value of agricultural land is influenced by several factors, from soil quality to market demand. Whether you’re buying, selling, or appraising farmland, understanding these elements can help you make informed decisions. In this blog, we’ll explore the most critical factors affecting farmland prices and how they impact land valuation.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 65 tracts or 7,510 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during February 2025. The average dollar per acre was $12,178, the average dollar per tillable acre was $13,263, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $171.

Many people assume that owning land means controlling everything above and below the surface. However, mineral rights and surface rights are separate legal interests, and understanding their distinction is crucial for landowners, investors, and energy developers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.