OMAHA, Neb. – What started out with better than expected sales prices at land auctions prior to fall harvest extended into very strong prices at some auctions during October and November, surprising many.

“Farmers National Company had auction sales in several states during this time where land sold near levels last seen in 2012. In specific instances, prices for good quality cropland in the heart of the Midwest are up hundreds to thousands of dollars per acre more than anticipated,” said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company.

In several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, interest in farmland by investors has grown in the past year, according to Farmers National.

“Prices for top quality cropland sold at our auctions are up $1,000 per acre or more since before harvest,” said David Whitaker, area sales manager for the company. “Demand for good farmland has definitely increased.”

Despite the challenges faced by agriculture and producers in 2020, the farmland market remained stable throughout the year and strengthened in the last quarter. Iowa agriculture especially endured economic challenges with interruptions to livestock deliveries, the derecho storm, lower ethanol demand and a late season drought across much of the state.

“Government payments, crop insurance, low interest rates and rising grain prices sustained farmers’ interest in buying land especially in the fall time frame,” Whitaker said. “Add in the growing number of investors who want to own farmland and you have a strong demand driven land market.”

Agricultural land prices have been fairly stable in the past several years despite the gyrations of the ag economy. Producer incomes were taking hits, but the land market took it in stride except for the hardest hit areas or segments. The factors supporting the land market remained constant during this time: historically low interest rates, a lower supply of land for sale and adequate demand for good cropland about everywhere.

The demand for land is the driver of the current land price surge. “Values for good cropland are strong right now with more farmers stepping up to buy as well as a growing number of individual investors,” Dickhut said. “Buying interest from farmers has increased as they anticipate a better income year in 2020 than once thought.”

Higher commodity prices and the historic influx of government payments in 2020 have helped the financial condition of many farmers and therefore their interest in productive land.

Demand for all types of land has also seen an increase. As a result of COVID-19, a growing number of individuals have become interested in land as an investment. An individual might be interested in a rural acreage so they can have a place outside an urban area or it might be cropland if they want a safe, long-term investment. Bottom line, buying interest for land in general is up.

“The overall supply of good cropland for sale is on the low side and is similar to the past few years,” Dickhut noted. “Despite the slower ag land market, the dollar amount of land that Farmers National Company is currently selling for its clients is near record levels at $300 million.”

The new year will bring a renewed examination of the underlying factors propelling land prices.  There will be no large influx of government cash for producers in 2021, but grain prices are significantly higher so that more of net farm income will come from the market. Interest rates continue to be historically low, which supports strong land prices.

Looking ahead, the supply of ag land on the market will not change much as it remains mostly inheritors, estates and non-operating families who sell. Farm finances will be adequate for another year to avoid an increase in forced sales by lenders. Active demand for good cropland by farmers and investors will continue for now, Dickhut predicted.

In the land market, the same supporting factors that have been keeping ag land values stable the past few years are expected to carry on in 2021. The additional factor driving land prices at the end of 2020 is the stronger demand by both farmers and investors.