Agriculture Blogs

I was raised outside Boulder, Colorado, near the mountains but far removed from large-scale production agriculture. Still, I developed a passion for the agricultural industry early on—riding horses and raising livestock on my family’s small acreage.

The 2025 farming season in the Delta region is proving to be one of the most difficult in recent years - and that is saying something. Landowners across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas are watching their tenants shift crop strategies, struggle with flood damage, and continue to tighten their belts as economic conditions remain strained.

Michigan stands as one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the U.S., producing over 300 different commodities. This diversity is second only to California, thanks to Michigan’s unique combination of fertile soil, ample rainfall, and varied microclimates.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Growing up on my family’s dairy farm in the picturesque hills of Northeast Iowa, I always felt a deep sense of peace walking along the pastures and field driveways. Even though I didn’t know where those walks might lead, there was something grounding about them. Today, I find that same sense of stability when I talk with landowners about their family farms or recent land investments. After 12 years in the appraisal field, I’m honored to hold the ARA designation, which has been both humbling and grounding in my career.

Emily Oberbroeckling, ARA, Peoples Company, has been awarded the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers® (ASFMRA®).

Anyone in the farmland sector has heard the adage that as the size of a farm increases the price per acre typically decreases. Whether you’re an appraiser or other real estate professional, this message seems to be heard throughout the business. While this can be true in many cases, I’ve run across some instances where the theory could be questioned.