Iowa Farmland Values Remain Stable with Positive Outlook

Iowa Farmland Values Remain Stable with Positive Outlook

The Land Trends and Value Survey, presented by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter #2 REALTORS Land Institute, reported a 1.3% increase in cropland values on a statewide average for the September 2025 to March 2026 time period.

“The survey reflects what we are seeing. Although there is weakness in commodity prices, there is strong demand for high-quality land, so the values remain strong,"  said Eric Schlutz, ALC, Realtor, and Manager of the Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors Muscatine Office. 

Survey respondents identified commodity prices as the leading factor driving the land market, followed by the supply of land and interest rates. Values on tillable acres were up in all nine of Iowa's crop reporting districts, with the East Central district reporting the largest increase at 2.0%.

Pasture values increased 2.6% over the past six months. Timber and recreational land values rose 2.2%, reflecting continued interest in recreational ground despite broader market uncertainty.

"The farmland market continues to show great overall pricing stability given the tight profit margins in farming, especially for grain producers. Livestock production, especially the cattle industry, has experienced better income prospects, which has helped our farmland market. High-quality land in our eastern Iowa market remains strong due to sustained good demand and continuing short supply of land for sale. We expect this stability to continue, but will remain aware of changes in commodity prices, yield expectations, geopolitical shifts, and overall economic conditions that may affect future land values,” said Dennis Stolk, ALC, Farm and Land Specialist with Ruhl Farm & Land. 

Looking ahead, 70% of survey respondents said they expect land values to increase 0-10% over the next five years. Only 5% expect values to be lower five years from now. The long-term outlook reflects continued confidence in Iowa farmland as a stable asset class, with both operational and investor buyers expected to sustain demand regardless of short-term market fluctuations.


For the survey, participants are asked to estimate the average value of farmland as of March 1, 2026. These estimates are for bare, unimproved land with a sale price on a cash basis. Pasture and timberland values were also requested as supplemental information. 

Ruhl Farm & Land, a division of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, is focused on the sale, purchase, and marketing of land, farms, and acreages. 

About Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors

A family-owned company since 1862, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors has grown to 274 sales associates, 58 employees, and 10 offices, selling nearly 4,200 homes in eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and southwest Wisconsin. The company has residential sales offices in Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Iowa City, and Muscatine, Iowa; and in Moline, Illinois. For more information on Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, visit their website at www.RuhlHomes.com.