January 2026 Wallace’s Farmer MarketPlace Extra

The Iowa farmland market is entering 2026 with stable legs. While there were more land sales following fall harvest than there were through much of 2025, a still somewhat limited supply of land to purchase has not overwhelmed demand. Considering the weakness in commodity prices throughout much of 2025, it seems many market watchers had expected to see a little more land value pressure. But the reality is that land prices have proven incredibly stable.

To that end, in November 2025 the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s AgLetter indicated that land values in the district – which includes Iowa, most of Illinois, most of Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan – actually increased by 3% for the prior 12 months. When looking specifically at Iowa, the annual reading showed a subtle 1% lower change year-over-year. We will have an additional land value survey check-in from Iowa State in the next 30 days. Based on the sales I’m sharing below, I expect to see another stable report.

NORTHWEST

Clay County:

Located northeast of Spencer, 77 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $13,100 per acre. The farm consisted of 74 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 (Corn Suitability Rating index) of 91.0, and equaled $150 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTH CENTRAL

Worth County:

Located south of Bolan, 80 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $15,300 per acre. The farm consisted of 79 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 88.2, and equaled $175 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTHEAST

Black Hawk County:

Located west of LaPorte City, 75 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $19,275 per acre. The farm consisted of 70 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 90.8, and equaled $227 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

WEST CENTRAL

Greene County:

Located south of Grand Junction, 160 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $11,950 per acre. The farm consisted of 147 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 80.4, and equaled $162 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres. Note: Snake Creek runs diagonally through this property.

CENTRAL

Hamilton County:

Located southeast of Stratford, 80 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $12,500 per acre. The farm consisted of 78 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 83.5, and equaled $154 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

EAST CENTRAL

Johnson County:

Located southeast of Iowa City, 160 +/- acres recently sold for $10,750 per acre. The farm consisted of 152 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 68.4, and equaled $165 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTHWEST

Mills County:

Located south of Glenwood, 75 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $8,900 per acre. The farm consisted of 50 +/- tillable acres with an average CSR2 of 69.0, and the balance of acres were in mature timber.

SOUTH CENTRAL

Ringgold County:

Located near Redding, 114 +/- acres recently sold at public auction for $6,000 per acre. This farm consisted of 93 +/- tillable acres with an average CSR2 of 50.9, and the balance of acres were waterways and timbered draws.  

SOUTHEAST

Mahaska County:

Located southeast of Oskaloosa, 80 +/- acres recently sold for $15,700 per acre. The farm consisted of 77 +/- tillable acres with a CSR2 of 85.9, and equaled $190 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

Hensley is president of Hertz Real Estate Services, which compiled this list, but did not handle all sales. Call Hertz at  800-593-5263  or visit hertz.ag.

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