Fall 2026 Land Trends and Values Survey
By Chuck Schwager

 

Brad Marcus and I with fellow members attended the Realtor Land Institute Land Conference on September 24th in Dyersville. The results of the Realtors Land Institute September 2026 Land Trends and Values Survey are in. The survey shows an increase in values in 6 districts, a decrease in two districts, and no change in one district across the state of Iowa. The results of the survey shows a moderate statewide increase in values of 0.6% from March 2026 to September 2026. Our region of East Central Iowa had the largest increase of 2.5% for the 6 month period. This increase comes after a period of 12 months prior that prices were relatively flat with an increase of just 1.9%. The highest increase in values was at -4.4%  in the Northeast district and the lowest decrease was -0.8 % in the North Central district.

 Slightly improved commodity prices and the prospect of good yields across much of Iowa seems to bring optimism to the current market. Although rising input costs and interest rates are still a very big concern to buyers.  There continues to be a lower supply of land offered on the market in our region, with an increase of the number of acres available in other parts of Iowa. Local farmers continue to be active in the market when land is available for purchase in their neighborhood.

Pasture acres have shown similar trends with an increase of 4.5% for the past year across the state. Timber and recreational land also has had a moderate increase in value. Livestock producers and recreational buyers are still aggressive when the right parcel comes up for sale. Farmers continue to be the majority of buyers for farmland.

Realtor Land Institute members who specialize in agricultural land brokerage on a daily basis have conducted the survey every March and September since 1978. For more information on this survey and land values contact Chuck Schwager at 563-599-4277, or Brad Marcus at 319-213-3222, East Iowa Real Estate, 125 South 2nd St., Maquoketa, IA.

​

Iowa Chapter of REALTORS® Land Institute: September 24th, 2026.  Dyersville, IA

​

Iowa farmland values held steady over the past six months, according to the Iowa REALTORS® Land Institute’s (RLI) fall 2026 survey. The September survey, which evaluated land values as of September 1, showed a 0.6% increase since March 2026, survey coordinators reported. "The farmland market appears stable while still trying to build on its optimism it found this spring”. “We have had a really nice rally in commodity prices in recent months, will that rally be offset by higher interest rates, higher input prices, and more supply of land on the market this fall? Time will tell.”

​

Key Findings  Survey respondents identified that on one hand, improved commodity prices and the prospect of good yields in much of Iowa this fall has some buyers very optimistic. On the other hand, rising input costs and interest rates are trying to put a cloud over the market again. With a seasonal uptick in the supply of farms available to the market coming this fall, many buyers appear to be in a “wait and see” mode. Values on tillable acres were up marginally at 0.6% across the State on the September survey. Six of the crop reporting districts showed a positive increase, one district was flat, and two districts (North Central and Northwest) were down slightly. East Central Iowa saw the greatest strength on tillable acres, up 2.5%. North Central saw the greatest decrease at -1.3%. “Buyers are still very active,” said Anders. “They are just a little more selective in the farms they are willing to pursue. If it’s not a perfect farm, they are discounting the blemishes a farm has, maybe even a little more than they would have a few years ago. But if it’s a good farm – they are paying healthy values to compete and get the farm bought.” Pasture values increased 1.9% over the past six months, following the March survey when they were up 2.6%. The cattle market continues to support strong demand for pastureland from cattle producers in Iowa. Timber and recreational land values rose 2.1%, reflecting continued interest in recreational ground despite rising interest rates. Overall, Iowa farmland continues its stable trend, with a slight bias to stronger in much of the state. The September 1st survey showing an increase of 0.6%, is following the March 1 survey showing an increase of 1.3%, giving us a twelve-month increase of 1.9%.

​

Outlook  Heading into fall, many market participants are cautiously optimistic that strong yields and improved commodity prices will continue to be supportive of land values throughout the Fall selling season. Some have restrained their optimism because of raising interest rates and input prices, but many feel at this point that the income side of the equation in Iowa this fall will offset the increases in costs. The farmland market has faced no shortage of head winds and conflicting marketing drivers in recent years. Despite the continued volatility though, the farmland market appears to be gaining confidence heading into the Fall selling season.

​

About the Survey  REALTORS® Land Institute – Iowa Chapter’s farmland value survey has been conducted in March and September since 1978. This survey plus the RLI Farm and Ranch Multiple Listing Service are activities of REALTORS® specializing in agricultural land brokerage daily. The survey gathers input from land professionals across Iowa’s nine crop reporting districts to track farmland values and market trends. The fall 2026 survey evaluated values from March 1, 2026, and results were released at the Iowa RLI Fall Seminar on September 24, 2026, at Field of Dreams, Dyersville, Iowa.

​

​