As I write this article in early April, Iowa’s spring weather has been wildly unpredictable — 80 degrees and windy just three days ago, followed by 2 inches of snow and blustery 25-degree F temperatures that felt more like early December. Fortunately, as we approach another growing season, the Iowa farmland market is calmer than the weather.
Specifically, there has been a noticeable “firming” in the land market this spring compared with last fall. The Iowa chapter of the Realtors Land Institute recently reported that Iowa land values eased 1% from September through March.
While weaker sales were easy to find early last fall, this 1% decrease in the most recent period has been more difficult to distinguish, especially since the beginning of 2025. As I see it, this “firming” ties back to three collective influences:
- Commodity prices enjoyed a terrific run higher in early 2025. This rally offered many profitable selling opportunities for both the old and new crop. Profit margins are not fat, but compared with 2024, this turn has been quite positive.
- The $10 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program aid is on its way. Government payments such as this inject immediate liquidity into the countryside, along with a measured dose of optimism.
- There appear to be fewer farms being offered on the market. This tends to consolidate interest — and competition — around those farms that do become publicly available.
To be clear, we are not back to the strength of the 2021-2023 land market. But, when you review these sales below, I expect most of you will join my thinking that there’s still a depth of confidence across Iowa’s farmland market.
Clay County. Located southwest of Royal, +/- 40 acres recently sold at public auction for $19,400 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 39 tillable acres with a Corn Suitability Rating index of 95.2, and equals $209 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Floyd County. Located east of Charles City, +/- 75 acres recently sold at public auction for $13,100 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 75 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 81.4, and equals $161 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Buchanan County. Located southwest of Independence, +/- 80 acres recently sold at public auction for $14,100 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 76 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 76.1, and equals $195 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Greene County. Located north of Grand Junction, +/- 40 acres recently sold at public auction for $14,500 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 39 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 85.2, and equals $175 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Boone County. Located northeast of Boone, +/- 49 acres recently sold at public auction for $14,100 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 45 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 81.5, and equals $188 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Jones County. Located west of Monticello, +/- 80 acres recently sold for $15,800 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 79 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 84.9, and equals $188 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.
Page County. Located southeast of Shenandoah, +/- 80 acres recently sold at public auction for $8,000 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 67 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 74.7, and equals $128 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres. Note: The nontillable land was primarily terraces and waterways.
Warren County. Located north of St. Mary’s, +/- 143 acres recently sold at public auction for $9,000 per acre. This combination farm consists of +/- 33 cropped acres with a CSR2 of 87.9; +/- 35 acres in hay production; +/- 50 acres in CRP; and an older farmhouse, older cattle shed and small machine shed. Note: About 22 acres of this farm is in timbered draws and waterways.
Washington County. Located northeast of West Chester, +/- 80 acres recently sold at public auction for $17,200 per acre. The farm consists of +/- 80 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 75.7, and equals $227 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.