While corn and soybeans dominate the landscape, it is easy to overlook the small, yet active logging industry found across the Midwest. Iowa alone has 2.1 million acres of woodlands, where local loggers harvest common species ranging from oak and walnut along the Mississippi River to maple and cottonwood in the state’s interior. Logging as a niche market in the larger agriculture industry generates a $5 billion impact on Iowa’s economy.

For our next webinar in the Landowner Insights series, Steve Bruere and Hunter Norland join Dr. Dave Muth with Peoples Company Capital Markets.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 139 tracts or 12,335 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during October 2024. The average dollar per acre was $11,072, the average dollar per tillable acre was $12,408, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $161.

Anyone in the farmland sector has heard the adage that as the size of a farm increases the price per acre typically decreases. Whether you’re an appraiser or other real estate professional, this message seems to be heard throughout the business. While this can be true in many cases, I’ve run across some instances where the theory could be questioned.

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.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 93 tracts or 7,374 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during September 2024. The average dollar per acre was $13,428, the average dollar per tillable acre was $13,481, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $170.

For our next webinar in the Landowner Insights series, Dave Chatterton of Strategic Farm Marketing joins Dr. Dave Muth to discuss crop insurance and how it impacts farmland values and returns.

In an era where sustainability and profitability intertwine, land investment has evolved beyond conventional real estate ventures. Modern investors seek opportunities that not only promise financial gains but also contribute positively to the environment and communities.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 52 tracts or 5,039 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during August 2024. The average dollar per acre was $13,134, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,862, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $181.

When we think of investment vehicles, our minds often drift to stocks, bonds, or commercial and residential real estate. But there’s an investment class that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves: farmland. Beyond its basic value as a commodity, farmland offers a range of unique benefits and hidden opportunities that set it apart from more traditional investments. Here’s why farmland is worthy of consideration for your diversified portfolio.