Special Report: America's Top 30 Auction Houses 

Farmers National Company rated the #1 auction company in 2010 

The Land Report, the Magazine for America's Landowners - Spring 2011 

For real estate information in your local area, please see the following… 

Our Analysis of the Land Market 

The US farmland market continues to be hot, with values reaching a two-year high! Availability of quality land is tight, bringing fast sales and top dollar for properties. Values are up 20% to 30% or more, compared to rises of 5% to 10% in 2010.  

Farmers National Company has seen record auction activity during the last six months as more properties are being sold at auction to maximize profits. The tight supply of quality land has also prompted buyers to look at less productive land that can be upgraded.  

Strong grain prices are boosting profits for farmers, prompting them to pursue land in order to expand operations. In addition, cash rents in top production areas have increased 25% to 40% for 2012. 

Farmers make up 75% of the buyers in the market, despite continued strong interest from investors. Land continues to be a tangible investment that has performed well, thus the demand. 

While Farmers National Company projects brisk activity to continue, there are market factors that could impact the future of farm values. 

Overall, the upcoming year looks positive. However, poor performance in the commodity market over the next year could bring downward pressure on land values. Good weather world-wide could result in a crop surplus, dropping prices. In addition, inflation would boost interest rates, negatively affecting land values. 

Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas Panhandle 

The land market across the Kansas and Texas Panhandle farm belt continues to be strong for all classes of land reports Monty Meusch, Area Sales Manager for Farmers National Company for Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.. Even areas of the Plains that were hit by extreme drought in 2011 are seeing strong price increases. 

Strong activity over the past three years is shrinking availability of property based on the sheer number of transactions that have taken place. 

A record number of farms and ranches has changed hands in recent years. This is leading to a reduction of properties being offered. Demand is robust for any quality land that makes it into the marketplace. 

Sales prices in Kansas of top quality irrigated cropland are selling for up to $4,500 per acre depending on location, while prices for irrigated cropland with good water in the Texas Panhandle have reached $3,000 per acre. 

Iowa and Minnesota 

According to Sam Kain, Area Sales Manager for Farmers National Company, demand for quality land continues to be very strong in the North Central Region including Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.   

Iowa values are up 32% from a year ago. An Iowa State University survey shows values are at an all-time high level. 

In Iowa, top quality land is selling at over $9,500 per acre, with Minnesota values bringing in $7,500 plus per acre. 

Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, Central/Western Nebraska, and Wyoming 

Land prices in the western region of the farm belt are up 15% to 25% across the board in the past six months to J.D. Maxson, Area Sales Manager for Farmers National Company, tells us. A shortage of irrigated land is pushing up demand for dry land acres.   

Price in this region is ranging from $5,500 to $9,500 per acre for high quality tillable acres, with location, soils, and topography dictating price. 

Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio  

Illinois is leading farmland sales trends in this region. Land values as well as sales prices are highest in Illinois, then Indiana and Ohio, according to Roger Hayworth, Area Sales Manager for Farmers National Company for Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Missouri. 

Prices in Illinois are bringing in, on average, $9,500 per acre for high quality land. Values in Indiana are up to $8,000 per acre, while those in Ohio have reached $6,500 per acre.  

Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee 

According to Keith Morris, Area Sales Manager for Farmers National Company in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, western Kentucky, Louisiana, and southern Missouri, the Mid South remains strong with farmers buying up land in cash transactions. Low supply and demand continues to drive prices up increasing sales of lower quality properties. Activity is brisk, leading to fast sales. 

Prices have increased up to 30% on top land in some areas with no sign of a slow down. Prices for top farmland are averaging $3,800 per acre in Arkansas, $3,500 per acre in Tennessee, and $3,800 per acre in Mississippi. 

RECENT LAND AUCTION RESULTS 

$13,300/Acre • Bremer County, Iowa 

$8,800/Acre • Bremer County, Iowa 

$6,950 /Acre • Minnehaha County, South Dakota 

$5,950/Acre • Lincoln County, South Dakota 

For more details on our upcoming auctions, please click here to see our auction calendar. 

LAND AUCTION • MULTIPLE TRACTS! 

638.21± Acres 

Howard County, Indiana 

Wednesday, January 25 at 5:00 PM EST at Celebration, 3437 W Sycamore Street in Kokomo • Indiana
Offering multi-tracts of quality productive soils attractive to investors, complimented with the diversity of recreational use tracts, and potential residential development. L-1200171 • For additional information, contact Russ Hiatt, agent (217) 442-8003 or co-broker Cartwright Ellis, Auctioneer (765) 457-8238, Lic AU01023259. or click here. 

LAND AUCTION • THREE TRACTS! 

596.89± Acres • Hall County, Nebraska 

Thursday, February 9, at 10:30 AM at the Howard Johnson-Riverside Inn, 3333 Riverside Road in Grand Island, Nebraska 

Property is located south and east of Cairo, Nebraska.
• Tract 1: 80.42 acres; 78 tillable acres of Class II soil with an irrigation well 

• Tract 2: 142.14 acres; 126 acres of sandy and silt loams with an irrigation well 

• Tract 3: 200.64 acres; 145 tillable acres including 62 irrigated acres, 43 pasture acres of with a large DNR dam• For additional information, contact Jim VanDerWerff, Agent at (402) 290-4790 or click here.  

If you are considering selling, let this market work for you. This is not a time to sell real estate quietly to the neighbor or a relative unless you just want to leave money on the table. To get a handle on what your land might be worth, or if you are interested in buying land to add to your portfolio, give Lee Vermeer a call at 1-800-346-2650. 

Would you like to Know About New Land Listings and Upcoming Auctions in Your Area? 

Farmers National Company would like to provide you with the most current information available by e-mail on new FNC land listings, real estate auctions and land trade news at no cost or obligation from you. Just click on the link below and provide us with your name, address, and e-mail. Please indicate what states you are interested in receiving information about in the "Comments" box.  

Click Here to Search FNC Listings 

For real estate information about your specific area, please contact: 

Roger Hayworth, Area Sales Manager for Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, eastern Kentucky, and eastern Missouri at 1-888-673-4919 or RHayworth@FarmersNational.com; 

Sam Kain, ALC, GRI, ABRM, Area Sales Manager for Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota at 1-800-798-4509 or SKain@FarmersNational.com;  

J.D. Maxson, Area Sales Manager for western Nebraska, portions of northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado, eastern Wyoming, and southwest South Dakota at (308) 660-2100 or JMaxson@FarmersNational.com;  

Keith Morris, ALC, GRI, Area Sales Manager for the Mid-South states at (901) 494-5263 or KMorris@FarmersNational.com. 

Monty Meusch, AFM. ALC. CAI. CES, Sales Manager for Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas at (817) 600-9485 or MMeusch@FarmersNational.com. 

Important Links 

Your Current Weather  

Chicago Board of Trade 

Kansas City Board of Trade