Ames, Iowa — It’s been a difficult year for farmers, the planting season saw an overabundance of rain and delayed planting, the United States’ trade war with China persisted, skewing both commodity prices and demand, and farm bankruptcies rose to the highest level since 2011. However, favorable interest rates, strong yields, and limited land supply combined to help drive Iowa’s farmland values up for only the second time in six years.
The statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated to be $7,432, which represents an increase of 2.3 percent, or $168, since 2018. The $7,432 per acre estimate, and 2.3 percent increase in value, represents a statewide average of low-, medium-, and high-quality farmland.
Once again this year northwest Iowa farmland is some of the most valuable in the state of Iowa. In fact, only one county reports land values higher than our four northwest Iowa counties of Lyon, Sioux, O’Brien and Osceola. Leading the way in Iowa is Scott County in far eastern Iowa, along the Mississippi River. Scott County’s average farmland value this year is $10,837 Second in the state is O’Brien County, with an average farmland value of $10,411 an acre, followed by Sioux County at $10,297, Lyon County at $9,451, and Osceola County at $9,119.
For more in-depth information on Iowa farmland values, CLICK HERE.
