Land Values Blogs

In this first webinar in the Landowner Insights series, Dr. David Muth of Peoples Company presented on market trends, economic drivers, and environmental policy impacting the farmland asset class as well as management strategies to regulate risk and optimize return.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 85 tracts or 7,064.51 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during February 2024. The average dollar per acre was $13,389, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,935, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $185.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 40 tracts or 3,868.91 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during January 2024. The average dollar per acre was $12,060, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,071, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $183.

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.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 94 tracts or 9,929.61 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during December 2023. The average dollar per acre was $12,104, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,085, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $180.

After reading yet another negative headline on the $20 trillion commercial real estate (CRE) market, I was reminded of the investment characteristic I once assumed the CRE market shared with the $4 trillion farmland market.

When it comes to determining the value of your property, whether for buying, selling, refinancing, or other purposes, it's crucial to rely on the expertise of a qualified professional. Two common choices for property appraisal are certified appraisers and real estate agents or brokers. While both can provide valuable insights, there are key differences between the two.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 255 tracts or 23,230 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during November 2023. The average dollar per acre was $12,018, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,124, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $181.

As harvest across the Midwest is wrapping up, the seasonal auction sales are officially in full swing. In Iowa, our appraisal team was able to track over 7,800 acres sold in 89 tracts. The average dollar per acre was $13,043, average dollar per tillable acre was $14,423 with an average dollar per CSR2 point of $178. This is down 2% from the Q3 average. Illinois had a rally, too, with 1,830 acres selling in 24 tracts at an average dollar per acre of $15,281.

November is historically the busiest time of year for public auctions, and 2023 is no exception. The week of November 5, 61 tracts were auctioned in Iowa, 20 in Illinois, 15 in Minnesota, and 10 in Nebraska.