Latest REALTORS® Land Institute Iowa Chapter Land Values Survey Results
The REALTORS® Land Institute – Iowa Chapter has released the March 2026 Land Trends and Values Survey, providing valuable insights into current farmland market conditions across Iowa. The survey gathers input from land professionals including farm managers, real estate brokers, lenders, and agricultural attorneys who are actively involved in the farmland market.
The survey is conducted twice each year—March 1 and September 1—and tracks farmland value changes across Iowa’s nine crop reporting districts. By analyzing multiple categories of farmland including high-quality cropland, medium-quality cropland, lower-quality cropland, pasture, and timberland, the survey provides a detailed view of how Iowa farmland values are evolving.
Statewide Farmland Value Change: +1.3%
September 2025 – March 2026
12-Month Change: ~0.1% Overall
March 2025 – March 2026
Regional Performance: Six-Month Change by Crop Reporting District
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Northeast Iowa: +3.4% (largest increase)
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East Central Iowa: +2.0%
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Southeast Iowa: +1.3%
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Southwest Iowa: +1.0%
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West Central Iowa: +1.0%
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Central Iowa: +0.9%
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Northwest Iowa: +0.7%
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South Central Iowa: +0.6%
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North Central Iowa: +0.5%
Overall, all nine crop reporting districts recorded gains during the past six months, marking the first positive statewide survey reading in nearly three years following the market correction that began in 2023.
Iowa Farmland Value Trends by Land Quality
The survey measures farmland values by potential corn production categories, giving insight into how different quality soils are performing in today’s market.
Statewide Average Values (March 2026)
High Quality Cropland: $13,878 per acre
Medium Quality Cropland: $10,805 per acre
Low Quality Cropland: $7,694 per acre
These values represent a modest increase from the September survey and reflect continued stability in Iowa’s farmland market despite softer commodity margins.
Pasture and Timber Land Values
Pasture and timberland values showed stronger gains than cropland in many areas, largely supported by favorable livestock market conditions and increased recreational demand.
Pastureland Value Highlights
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Northeast Iowa: +4.2% ($5,713/acre)
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East Central Iowa: +4.2% ($5,515/acre)
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West Central Iowa: +3.6% ($5,424/acre)
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Southeast Iowa: +3.5% ($5,579/acre)
Timberland Value Highlights
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North Central Iowa: +4.1% ($4,165/acre)
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East Central Iowa: +3.2% ($5,066/acre)
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Northeast Iowa: +2.5% ($5,181/acre)
Overall, timberland values ranged from flat to roughly +4% across the state, reflecting ongoing interest in recreational and diversified land ownership.
Market Analysis & Outlook
Our analysis of the March 2026 survey results highlights several important trends shaping the Iowa farmland market today.
Stabilizing Market Conditions
After significant appreciation from 2020 through early 2023, Iowa farmland values experienced a modest correction between 2023 and 2025. The latest survey shows a return to modest growth, signaling stabilization in the market.
Regional Variation
Eastern Iowa districts showed the strongest gains, while northern and central districts experienced more modest increases.
Quality Matters More Than Ever
Survey participants reported that high-quality farms continue to attract strong demand, while lower-quality farms—especially the bottom tier—can be more challenging to sell.
Supply Constraints
The supply of farms on the market remains limited. Compared with last year, most survey respondents now report the number of farms available as similar or slightly lower, indicating that tight inventory continues to support land values.
Key Factors Influencing Iowa Farmland Values
Survey participants ranked the following factors as the most influential forces affecting farmland prices.
Top Market Drivers
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Commodity Prices
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Supply of Land Available
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Interest Rates
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General Economic Conditions
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Government Programs
Commodity prices remained the most important factor influencing farmland values, while the availability of land on the market moved into the second-most influential position.
Who is Buying Iowa Farmland?
Farmers remain the dominant buyers in the Iowa farmland market.
Buyer Breakdown
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Farmers: 57%
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Farmers with 1031 Exchange Funds: 10%
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Local Investors: 11%
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Local Investors with 1031 Funds: 7%
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Non-Local Investors: 7%
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Non-Local Investors with 1031 Funds: 6%
These results show that operator demand continues to anchor the farmland market, while investors remain active participants.
Expected Returns on Farmland
Survey participants were asked to estimate expected returns on agricultural land.
Expected Return on Cropland
Most respondents indicated expected annual returns of approximately 2%–3%.
Expected Return on CRP Land
CRP land is expected to produce 3–4% annual returns, reflecting stable government program income streams.
Five-Year Outlook for Iowa Farmland
Market participants are increasingly optimistic about long-term farmland values.
Expected Farmland Value Change Over the Next Five Years
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68% expect farmland values to increase 0–10%
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18% expect increases of 11–20%
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Only a small percentage expect declining values.
This suggests growing confidence that farmland values will continue to perform well over the long term.
Long-Term Iowa Farmland Performance
Even with recent market adjustments, Iowa farmland remains one of the strongest performing long-term agricultural assets.
Key Long-Term Data
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+44.3% increase from September 2020 to March 2023
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-10.5% correction from March 2023 through 2025
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March 2026 marks the first positive survey reading in nearly three years
This reinforces the historical pattern that farmland markets move through periods of growth, correction, and stabilization.
Why Choose Whitaker Marketing Group for Iowa Farmland?
- Survey Participation: Active contributors to the REALTORS® Land Institute Iowa Chapter land trends surveys.
- Specialized Knowledge: Exclusive focus on agricultural land transactions across the Midwest.
- Transaction Volume: Millions of dollars in farmland sales handled annually.
- Advanced Valuation: Proprietary farmland analysis incorporating CSR2 ratings, yields, and recent sales.
- Auction Expertise: Experienced auctioneers delivering competitive bidding environments.
- Complete Representation: From consultation through closing.
Free Iowa Farmland Valuation
Discover What Your Iowa Farmland Is Worth in Today’s Market
If you are considering selling farmland or simply want to understand how these trends impact your property, our team provides complimentary farmland market analysis for Iowa landowners.
Your free analysis includes:
- Current farmland value estimate
- Soil productivity and CSR2 analysis
- Recent comparable sales
- Auction potential evaluation
- Income and return projections
Contact Whitaker Marketing Group today.
Phone: (515) 996-5263
Email: info@wmgauction.com
Request a Free Farmland Valuation → CLICK HERE!
