Jackson Creek Ranch. Photo courtesy: Fay Ranches. An 800-acre cattle ranch in southern Oregon sold in February for $5,000,000. Pictures of the high-elevation ground look like something you would see on a postcard. With the Cascade Mountains in the background, rolling terrain, and abundant wildlife, the beauty of the land makes it seem less like a working ranch and more like a place you would go on vacation to get away from it all. But Jackson Creek Ranch is a busy place for the cattle and the...

When a farm with strong soil and a reliable irrigation system recently sold at auction in southwest Nebraska, the final price surprised even the broker handling the sale. “We were pulling comparables anywhere from $6,500 to $8,000 an acre,” said Scott Dean of Farmers National Company. “We ended up blowing past that.” The 322.73-acre property in Keith County outside Ogallala sold for $10,100 an acre, totaling $3,259,573. The farm was offered in two tracts but ultimately purchased together by a...

Several recent regional reports reflect the continued strength of farmland. But they also show some sectors that face mounting financial pressures, while others show increased opportunities. American Farmland Owner prioritizes the importance of reporting in-depth research on factors that impact farmland values for current owners, investors, and people who are considering entering this agricultural space. Steady Farmland Values in the Midwest and Plains    Farmland values across much of the...

Rising fertilizer prices are emerging as one of the most immediate agricultural consequences of the escalating U.S. and Israel war with Iran, creating uncertainty for farmers preparing for the spring planting season. Analysts warn that the conflict’s disruption of global fertilizer supplies could affect crop decisions, farm profitability, and ultimately food prices for consumers. It is one more political dynamic that farmers will watch as they are already waiting to see if President Donald...

Photo Courtesy of Farmers National A 430-acre farm, located about 15 miles northeast of Springfield, Illinois, sold in a private transaction on January 29th for $7,224,672. While the $16,800 per-acre figure was considered strong for the area, the agent who handled the sale says the defining factor behind the competitive price was not just yield history or infrastructure — it was contiguity. “All 430 acres are in one contiguous tract,” said Max Hendrickson of Farmers National Company, who...

Agricultural land values in the Midwest increased in 2025, reversing a modest decline the previous year, according to the latest   from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s AgLetter. The quarterly publication, written by economists with the Chicago Fed, analyzes agricultural land values and credit conditions across the bank’s Seventh District, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The findings are based on responses from agricultural bankers who completed the...

A 154-acre farm near Indianola, Iowa, sold at auction this January for $1.54 million, but it wasn’t a typical land sale. Along with the ground came one important condition: the longtime owner, Gwen Hodson, 93, will be allowed to remain in the farmhouse for the rest of her life.

corn harvesting silos in background

With 2025 in the rearview mirror, what’s ahead for farmers and landowners in 2026? That question can cause anxiety for those who make their living off the land.  Jim Knuth, senior vice president of lending in Iowa for Farm Credit Services of America, said that when he looks at what happened last year, there is reason to be cautious—but also optimistic. Knuth spoke during one of the breakout sessions at the Land Investment Expo held earlier this month in Des Moines, Iowa.  Here are some of the...

There is a new number one on the list of the nation’s leading landowners in the United States. If you don’t recognize the name, Stan Kroenke, you are probably at least familiar with some of the sports teams he owns: the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. The sports and entertainment mogul now owns 2.7 million acres of private land, consisting mostly of cattle ranches, according to the new Land Report 100  list. Kroenke was number four on last...

American Farmland Owner writes about some of the farmland and ranch sales that happen all over the country. From 500,000-acre cattle ranches to much smaller family farms entering the market for the first time in 150 years, we are often intrigued by the stories behind the land as it changes hands.     Here are three of them we chose to highlight from the past year, including some of the features that make them unique:  Great Western Ranch. Photo courtesy: Hall and Hall. One of the Biggest The...

If 2025 was supposed to be the year farmland values either took a sharp turn up or down, the data delivered a different story: most land markets largely held their ground. After several years of rapid appreciation fueled by strong commodity prices, low interest rates, and limited supply, farmland values across the Midwest entered a period of what many experts call an “adjustment”.  2025 became a year defined by stabilization, uneven performance, and a growing divide between high-quality land...