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Farmland values holding in north Iowa

An ag real estate agent says farmland values are holding up in northern Iowa despite pressure from low commodity prices and high interest rates.

Austin Charlson with Land Proz says farms that are productive and well-tiled still generate a premium.

“I was at a sale earlier this winter and it was a piece that rolls a little bit and (soils) are a little lighter, but it still overall brought I think probably $11,500 (an acre) across the board.”

He tells Brownfield there was record sale activity in 2021 and 2022 when farmland values peaked.

“There was so much sold, interest rates were really good (and) the grain prices were really strong. In ’23 and ’24 I think it softened a little bit, interest rates had gone up somewhat. But there was just so much that (already) sold.”

Charlson says instead of three or four farmland sales a month like in 2021 and 2022, now there’s usually one sale a month which is more typical.