The Midwest farmland market in 2025 defied expectations. Despite elevated interest rates, softer commodity prices, and ongoing economic uncertainty, farmland values across much of the Midwest remained remarkably steady. Interest rates stayed elevated. Commodity prices pulled back. Conversations focused on the Federal Reserve, global trade, and government policy. But when the year closed, farmland prices across much of the Midwest told a different story. Values largely held steady—not because demand surged, but because fewer acres came to market. That single factor explains more about 2025 than almost anything else.
Midwest Farmland Market 2025: A Pause, Not a Problem
Throughout the year, many landowners pressed pause. Timing became the most common question: Should I sell now, or should I wait? Across much of the Midwest, most farmland is owned free and clear. That ownership structure gives landowners significant equity and flexibility. In Iowa alone, roughly 82% of farmland is owned without debt, representing an estimated $282 billion in equity. That balance-sheet strength allowed many landowners to slow down, reassess their plans, and avoid selling into short-term uncertainty. As a result, transaction volume declined—but the market did not break.
What the Midwest Farmland Market Looked Like in 2025
What defined 2025 was not one single outcome, but variability. Some farms sold extremely well. Others required more effort. The difference almost always came down to quality, location, and buyer depth. Strong farms still sold well. The rest had to work harder. We also saw a shift in how land moved to market. Traditional live outcry auctions declined, while sealed-bid auctions and conventional listings increased. Sellers adjusted their strategy. If they knew the price they wanted, they listed. If they wanted to test the market, they auctioned. For larger tracts, more sellers chose to split farms into multiple parcels. The reasoning was simple: there are far more buyers with a million dollars than buyers with fifteen million. In many cases, that decision produced stronger overall results.
Current Midwest Farmland Supply
Current inventory helps explain why values remained resilient. Across Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska, more than 2,000 active farmland listings of 25 acres or larger are currently on the market. Those listings represent approximately 689,598 acres and more than $3.4 billion in asking value. Pricing varies widely by state and by land quality, but one pattern remains consistent: location and quality matter more than ever.
What’s on the Market Today (25+ Acres)
IA
- 476 listings
- $884 million in inventory
- 99,358 acres
- Avg listing price: $10,573 / ac
MN
- 462 listings
- $339 million in inventory
- 188,792 acres
- Avg listing price: $9,146 / ac
MO
- 488 listings
- $542 million in inventory
- 91,428 acres
- Avg listing price: $7,589 / ac
NE
- 245 listings
- $477 million in inventory
- 141,397 acres
- Avg listing price: $8,932 / ac
IL
- 467 listings
- $1.1 Billion in inventory
- 168,623acres
- Avg listing price: $11,057 / ac
Five-State Total
- 2,138 listings
- $3.4 Billion in inventory
- 689,598 acres on the market
Where Upcoming Volume Fits In
Another part of the supply story lies ahead. Looking toward 2026, a measurable amount of farmland is already scheduled for sale across the Midwest through auctions and planned offerings. That upcoming volume suggests the pause we saw in 2025 is beginning to ease. The key takeaway is not that the market is flooding with acres. Instead, land is coming to market more intentionally. How sellers offer those acres, how they market them, and the quality of the land itself will matter just as much as total volume.
A Note for Buyers
For buyers, 2025 quietly created opportunity. If you are targeting medium- to marginal-quality ground, this window offers more flexibility than we have seen in several years. Buyers now have more selection, less urgency, and greater room to negotiate. Prices are not distressed, but the market feels more rational. At the top end, little has changed. High-quality, well-located farmland remains a strong long-term investment. Premium land still commands premium pricing. When top-tier farms come to market, they attract immediate attention, and buyers should expect to pay accordingly. One thing remains true—and likely always will: Everyone wants more farmland, and they are not making any more of it. For buyers navigating the Midwest farmland market in 2025, patience and selectivity created opportunity.
What Comes Next After the Midwest Farmland Market in 2025
My outlook for 2026 is balanced but optimistic. Land values can remain strong, but supply will decide the outcome. If landowners remain disciplined, prices are likely to hold. If significantly more acres come to market, buyers will become more selective, and quality will matter even more.
The Bottom Line
The farmland market did not panic in 2025. It paused, recalibrated, and sorted itself out. Farmland does not behave like other assets. It adjusts. It rewards quality. And it reflects long-term confidence more than short-term headlines. Looking ahead, the same supply discipline that shaped the Midwest farmland market in 2025 will influence values in 2026. If you are thinking about selling, buying, or simply trying to understand where your farm fits, the most important step is not timing the market—it is understanding your market. And that starts with a conversation.
