Farmland values stabilized in 2017, a reflection of continued market demand for quality land in states served by Frontier Farm Credit and Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica).
Sales of higher quality farm ground contributed to an uptick in average sale prices in 2017. Where prices dropped at local or regional levels, sales generally involved lower quality land. Average sale prices rose slightly in eastern Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Wyoming had too few sales to identify a trend.
FCSAmerica, in association with Frontier Farm Credit, compiles sales records and, twice a year, appraises 71 benchmark farms. The cooperatives’ objective is to track real estate values without the influence of changes in land quality on sale prices. Iowa and Wyoming saw modest overall increases in real estate values in 2017, while eastern Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota declined.
Below is the average state-by-state change in benchmark farm values through 2017. The number of benchmark farms in each state is indicated by parentheses.
| State |
Six Month |
One Year |
Five Year |
Ten Year |
| Iowa (21) |
1.4% |
1.8% |
-12.8% |
82.1% |
| Kansas (7) |
-0.1% |
-3.2% |
|
|
| Nebraska (18) |
-2.8% |
-2.8% |
-5.1% |
130.2% |
| South Dakota (23) |
-1.3% |
-3.1% |
15.6% |
123.3% |
| Wyoming (2) |
2.5% |
3.2% |
38.5% |
30.1% |
“Overall real estate values have stabilized in the past year, but continued low profit margins and potential for an increase in sales activity could put downward pressure on real estate values,” said Tim Koch, chief credit officer for Frontier Farm Credit and FCSAmerica.
Farmland values remain well below the market’s peak of three to four years ago. Overall, values are off about 20 percent.
EASTERN KANSAS
One benchmark farm increased in value, four declined and two were unchanged. The 3.2 percent decline in overall value for 2017 was due largely to the sole irrigated cropland represented among the benchmark farms. The value on the irrigated ground dropped 21 percent. Frontier Farm Credit has been tracking farm values since January 2015, when it began operating in alliance with FCSAmerica.
Public land auctions declined 31 percent compared to 2016 and total sales were down 46 percent.
The average price on completed sales by quarter:
IOWA
Eleven benchmark farms saw an increase in value in the last six months of 2017, while 10 showed no change.
Overall farmland sales activity was down 20 percent. However, public land auctions increased 2 percent compared to the previous year. The percent of auction sales fell to 2.7 percent, down from 3.2 percent in 2016.
NEBRASKA
Five benchmarks farms increased in value, while two showed no change. The remaining 11 declined an average of 6.1 percent.
Total sales declined in 2017, with dry cropland dropping 15 percent and irrigated 25 percent compared to 2016. Public land auctions dropped 16 percent and auction “no sales” increased to 5.2 percent, up from 2.2 percent in 2016.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Values were unchanged on 14 benchmark farms in second half of 2017. Three farms saw an increase and six declined.
Total sales were down 18 percent compared to 2016. Public land auctions were down 16 percent and “no sales” increased to 6.1 percent, up from 3.2 percent.
WYOMING
The one cropland benchmark farm increased in value by 5.1 percent. The pasture unit saw no change in value in the last six months of 2017.
Sales have been and continue to be very limited in Wyoming.
