In farm and rural real estate appraisal, it is essential to understand that the aggregated value of a property is not always equal to the disaggregated value of its parts.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 28 tracts or 2,007 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during May 2025. The average dollar per acre was $9,289, the average dollar per tillable acre was $11,895, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $160.

In the latest edition of the Landowner Insights series, Dr. Dave Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets is joined by Brian Klippenstein, Consultant at Missouri Water Center, Ambassador Gregg Doud, President & CEO of National Milk Producers Federation, and Iowa Senator Michael Bousselot.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 69 tracts or 6,511 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during April 2025. The average dollar per acre was $12,136, the average dollar per tillable acre was $15,979, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $185.

Explore Louisiana’s high-value specialty crops—from sweet potatoes to crawfish—and how they offer farmers and investors fresh opportunities beyond row crops.

When managing an estate, an appraisal plays a vital role in determining the fair market value of assets such as real estate and farmland. This valuation is essential for ensuring accurate tax calculations, fair inheritance distribution, and legal compliance. Understanding the appraisals' purpose can help protect family wealth and simplify the estate planning process.

Peoples Company tracks agricultural auctions across the state of Iowa. From this data, we calculate the average dollar per CSR2 point ($/CSR2) for sales of tracts with greater than 85% tillable land. Additionally, these tracts are largely unimproved or include minimal improvement contribution.

Midwest farmland values have long been a barometer of agricultural health, yet they are traditionally insulated from significant fluctuation caused by government policies or shifts in the general economy. As we move into 2025, many people believe that two government policies—tariffs and the recently enacted American Relief Act—are poised to influence these values in the near term. Here’s a quick look at how they might play out.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 50 tracts or 4,981 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during March 2025. The average dollar per acre was $12,597, the average dollar per tillable acre was $13,722, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $176.

In the March edition of the Landowner Insights series, Dr. Dave Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets is joined by Peoples Company land professionals Hunter Norland, Curtis Buono, and George Baird to discuss current market trends.