Iowa State economist describes push and pull on land values

Tim Kenyon
Apr 19, 2025
Apr 19, 2025

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

AMES, Iowa — Rabail Chandio is an assistant professor and Extension economist at Iowa State University. She is affiliated with the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, with research interests in the trends in the U.S. farmland market and examining the role of agricultural policy in driving farmers’ choices and financial outcomes.

kAmr92?5:@ 4@>A=6E65 96C 5@4E@C2E6 :? 28C:4F=EFC2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E 64@?@>:4D 2E %96 ~9:@ $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m w@H >:89E E2C:77D 27764E 72C>=2?5 G2=F6Dnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m %2C:77D — 6DA64:2==J E96 <:?5 E92E EC:886C C6E2=:2E@CJ @?6D 7C@> EC256 A2CE?6CD — FDF2==J 9:E 72C> :?4@>6 3J C65F4:?8 6IA@CE 56>2?5] p?5 3642FD6 =2?5 G2=F6D 2C6 4=@D6=J E:65 E@ :?4@>6 E92E =2?5 42? 86?6C2E6[ E9:D H:== AFE 5@H?H2C5 AC6DDFC6 @? 72C>=2?5 G2=F6D]k^Am

kAm(6 92G6 D66? E9:D :? AC6G:@FD C@F?5D @7 E2C:77D] w@H6G6C[ 5FC:?8 E96 AC6G:@FD EC256 5:DAFE6[ 8@G6C?>6?E A2J>6?E AC@8C2>D =:<6 E96 |2C<6E u24:=:E2E:@? !C@8C2> 96=A65 @77D6E =@DE C6G6?F6D 2?5 DE23:=:K6 72C> :?4@>6D[ 6DA64:2==J :? DE2E6D =:<6 x@H2]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E 2C6 E96 3:886DE 724E@CD @? &]$] 28 =2?5 G2=F6D 2D 2 H9@=6nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m p8 =2?5 G2=F6D 42? D:>A=J 36 567:?65 2D E96 AC6D6?E G2=F6 @7 7FEFC6 :?4@>6 E92E =2?5 H:== 86?6C2E6] $@[ =2?5 G2=F6D 4@>6 5@H? E@ EH@ <6J E9:?8D — E96 :?4@>6 E92E =2?5 :D 6IA64E65 E@ 86?6C2E6 2?5 E96 :?E6C6DE C2E6 FD65 E@ 5:D4@F?E E92E :?4@>6 @G6C E:>6]k^Am

kAmx? A=246D =:<6 E96 |:5H6DE[ E96 :?4@>6 7C@> =2?5 :D >@DE @7E6? 5C:G6? 3J 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D[ J:6=5D[ :?AFE 4@DED 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E DFAA@CE[ 2>@?8 @E96CD] (96? E9@D6 724E@CD 2C6 DEC@?8 2?5 A@D:E:G6=J 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 72C> :?4@>6[ =2?5 G2=F6D E6?5 E@ 9@=5 DE625J @C C:D6] %96 C64@C5\9:89 =2?5 G2=F6D 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 H6C6 5:C64E=J 2 C6DF=E @7 G6CJ DEC@?8 72C> :?4@>6D]k^Am

kAmr@?G6CD6=J[ H96? :?4@>6 E:89E6?D — =:<6 :? a_ab 2?5 a_ac — E92E AFED 5@H?H2C5 AC6DDFC6 @? E96 >2C<6E]k^Am

kAm%96C6 :D 2=D@ 2 4@>A@?6?E @7 E:>:?8] (9:=6 2?J 492?86D :? :?4@>6 27764E =2?5 G2=F6D C:89E 2H2J[ 492?86D :? :?E6C6DE C2E6 42? E2<6 FA E@ 2 564256 E@ 36 7F==J 42A:E2=:K65 :?E@ =2?5 G2=F6D] $@[ E96 :?E6C6DE C2E6D 7@C E96 A2DE D6G6C2= J62CD 92G6 366? :?7=F6?E:2= 7@C E96 =2?5 >2C<6ED 2?5 H6 ?665 E@ 4@?D:56C H96E96C C646?E 492?86D 2C6 DF3DE2?E:2= 6?@F89 E@ @FEH6:89 E96 @=56C :?E6C6DE C2E6 67764ED @C ?@E]k^Am

kAm%92E D2:5[ @E96C E9:?8D >2EE6C[ E@@] {:>:E65 =2?5 DFAA=J :? >2?J 2C62D 96=AD <66A AC:46D 6=6G2E65[ 6G6? H96? :?4@>6D 72==] #646?E=J[ H6 D2H >@C6 :?E6C6DE :? 72C>=2?5 7@C C62D@?D 36J@?5 72C>:?8 — =:<6 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J =62D6D[ C64C62E:@? @C :?G6DE>6?E]k^Am

kAmxE :D E92E AFD9\2?5\AF== 36EH66? E96 64@?@>:4D @7 72C>:?8 2?5 E96 3C@256C 56>2?5 7@C =2?5 E92E D92A6D E@52J’D 28 =2?5 >2C<6E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E 2C6 E96 3:886DE 724E@CD D92A:?8 E96 =2?5 >2C<6E :? E96 |:5H6DEnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m %96 4@C6 5C:G6CD — 72C> :?4@>6 2?5 :?E6C6DE C2E6D — C6>2:? E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E 5C:G6CD @7 =2?5 G2=F6D :? E96 |:5H6DE] w@H6G6C[ E96C6 2C6 @E96C :?7=F6?46D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Eight-generation farm raises rare cattle breed
The Right Data Put This Grower in the Driver’s Seat
Philip farmer named Dakotafest Woman Farmer of the Year
The 10 laws of agriculture
Soybean market considering crop expectations
Corn hybrids headed for emergency
Canola harvest begins in North Dakota
Young Montana rancher speaks up about regulatory overreach
Farm Progress Show includes new agronomy area
Variable rain keeps outlook mixed heading into harvest
Proud to be from top-ranked Nebraska
Consistent hard work means success
Ag technology continues to refine inputs
Shared family values align with nature’s way at Champion Valley Farm
Barn Boards and Baling Wire

kAmx@H2 2?5 x==:?@:D 2C6 DEC@?8=J 4@C?\ 2?5 D@J362?\7@4FD65 DE2E6D D@ E96 72C> :?4@>6D[ 2?5 2D 2 C6DF=E 72C>=2?5 G2=F6D[ 2C6 DEC@?8=J E:65 E@ AC@7:E23:=:EJ @7 E96D6 E@ 4C@AD] |:DD@FC: 92D C6=2E:G6=J >@C6 5:G6CD6 28C:4F=EFC6 H:E9 2 >:I @7 C@H 4C@AD 2?5 =:G6DE@4<] %92E D@>6E:>6D <66AD G2=F6D C2E96C DE23=6 H96? >2C8:?D 2C6 ?@E >@G:?8 :? E2?56>]k^Am

kAm%96 D@FC46 @7 E96 56>2?5 7@C =2?5 2=D@ 5:4E2E6D 9@H 4=@D6=J E:65 E96 =2?5 G2=F6D 2C6 E@ E96 28C:4F=EFC2= 64@?@>J] u@C :?DE2?46[ :? a_ab[ =2?5 G2=F6D :? D@FE9\46?EC2= x@H2 H6?E FA ?62C=J `_T 6G6? 2D 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D D@7E6?65 2?5 :?E6C6DE C2E6D C@D6] p 3:8 A2CE @7 E92E H2D :?G6DE@C :?E6C6DE — A2CE:4F=2C=J :? C64C62E:@?2= 2?5 9F?E:?8 =2?5] |62?H9:=6[ 2C62D =:<6 ?@CE9H6DE x@H2[ H9:49 925 D66? D@>6 @7 E96 62C=:6DE A@DE\A2?56>:4 AC:46 DFC86D[ DE2CE65 E@ =6G6= @77 2?5 DJ?465 H:E9 E96 72C> :?4@>6 EC6?5D]k^Am

kAm(6 2=D@ D66 8C@HE9 :? C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J =62D6D] x? D@>6 42D6D[ E9@D6 =62D6D @776C C6EFC?D E92E 2C6 9:896C E92? EC25:E:@?2= 4C@A AC@5F4E:@?] %92E 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ E96 72C> :?4@>6 2?5 DFAA@CED =2?5 G2=F6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E <:?5 @7 52E2 42? 96=A 6G2=F2E:@?D 2?5 AC65:4E:@?D @7 28 =2?5 G2=F6D :? 2 J62C[ 7:G6 J62CD @C `_ J62CDnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m xEVD :>A@CE2?E E@ H2E49 72C> :?4@>6 EC6?5D 2?5 :?E6C6DE C2E6 6IA64E2E:@?D] x? E96 D9@CE E6C>[ :?5:42E@CD =:<6k^Am

kAm&$sp 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46 7@C642DED[ :?AFE 4@DE EC6?5D 2?5 :?E6C6DE C2E6 D:8?2=D 7C@> E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 A=2J 2 <6J C@=6]k^Am

kAm(96? =@@<:?8 7:G6 E@ `_ J62CD @FE[ =@?8\E6C> &$sp 32D6=:?6 AC@;64E:@?D 364@>6 >@C6 C6=6G2?E]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 72C> :?4@>6 :D 6IA64E65 E@ 5:A :? E96 ?62C E6C>[ E96 =@?86C\E6C> @FE=@@< C6>2:?D DEC@?86C E92? :E H2D AC6\A2?56>:4] x? =:?6 H:E9 E9@D6 6IA64E2E:@?D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 a_ac x$& {2?5 '2=F6 $FCG6J[ ;FDE ``T @7 C6DA@?56?ED 6IA64E =2?5 G2=F6D E@ 564=:?6 @G6C E96 ?6IE 7:G6 J62CD[ 4@>A2C65 E@ dgT H9@ AC65:4E65 2 564=:?6 H:E9:? E96 ?6IE `a >@?E9D] ~G6C E96 >:5 E@ =@?8 E6C>[ fhT @7 C6DA@?56?ED 6IA64E =2?5 G2=F6D E@ :?4C62D6 3J a_ah[ H:E9 >@DE 2?E:4:A2E:?8 `_\a_T 82:?D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m s@ J@F 7@C6D66 >@C6 28 =2?5 @H?65 3J 76H6C A6@A=6 @C 4@CA@C2E:@?Dnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m *6D] %649?@=@8:42= 25G2?46>6?ED 92G6 6IA2?565 E96 D42=6 @7 @A6C2E:@? 7@C 72C>D DF3DE2?E:2==J @G6C E96 A2DE 76H 564256D] xE :D C62D@?23=6 E@ 6IA64E E92E EC6?5 H:== 4@?E:?F6] u6H6C A6@A=6 2C6 72C>:?8 >@C6 24C6D E92? :? E96 A2DE — 2?5 8@:?8 7@CH2C5[ H6 H:== =:<6=J ?665 6G6? 76H6C]k^Am

kAm(6 42? 2=C625J D66 E9:D D9:7E :? E96 52E2] x? a_ac[ >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 2== 72C>=2?5 EC2?D24E:@?D :? x@H2 H6C6 6DE2E6 D2=6D] %96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E92E =2?5 — 23@FE f_T — H2D AFC492D65 3J 6I:DE:?8 72C>6CD[ H9:=6 @?=J cT H6?E E@ ?6H 72C>6CD] $@[ 72C>6CD 6I:E E96 W6DE2E6 D2=6DX >2C<6E[ 3FE ?6H 72C>6CD 5@ ?@E C6A=246 E96> 2E E96 D2>6 C2E6]k^Am

kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ ?62C=J EH@\E9:C5D @7 x@H2 72C>=2?5 :D =62D65 @FE[ 2?5 >@C6 E92? 92=7 :D @H?65 3J A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E 72C> :E E96>D6=G6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E <:?5D @7 AC@8C2>D 42? 96=A 3FJ6CD AFC492D6 D>2==6C A2C46=D @7 28 =2?5nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m %96 3:886DE 492==6?86 7@C ?6H @C D>2==\D42=6 3FJ6CD :? >J @A:?:@? :D 2446DD E@ 7:?2?4:?8] !C@8C2>D E92E 96=A H:E9 5@H? A2J>6?ED[ @776C =62D6\E@\@H? @AE:@?D @C AC@G:56 =@H\:?E6C6DE =@2?D 4@F=5 >2<6 2 >62?:?87F= 5:776C6?46] $EC6?8E96?:?8 =2?5\=:?< AC@8C2>D — H9:49 4@??64E C6E:C:?8 =2?5@H?6CD H:E9 ?6H 6?EC2?ED — :D 2?@E96C H2J E@ 96=A]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxu%ik^DEC@?8m (92E 2C6 E96 E@A 724E@CD 5C2H:?8 >@C6 :?E6C6DE 2?5 AFC492D6D 3J :?E6C?2E:@?2= :?G6DE@CDnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mrwp}sx~ik^DEC@?8m x? x@H2[ 5:C64E 7@C6:8? @H?6CD9:A @7 72C>=2?5 :D 962G:=J C6DEC:4E65 — H6 92G6 D@>6 @7 E96 DEC:4E6DE =2HD :? E96 4@F?ECJ] qFE E92E 5@6D ?@E >62? E96C6 :D ?@ :?E6C?2E:@?2= :?E6C6DE] (92E H6 =2C86=J D66 :D 7@C6:8? =62D:?8 24E:G:EJ[ 6DA64:2==J E:65 E@ H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 6?6C8J AC@;64ED] ~FE @7 x@H2’D C@F89=J b_ >:==:@? 24C6D @7 72C>=2?5[ ;FDE F?56C aT — 23@FE d`a[___ 24C6D — 92G6 D@>6 7@C> @7 7@C6:8? :?E6C6DE[ H96E96C E9C@F89 @H?6CD9:A @C =@?8\E6C> =62D6] |@DE @7 E92E 4@>6D 7C@> =62D:?8 2CC2?86>6?ED[ ?@E 5:C64E @H?6CD9:A[ 2?5 >F49 @7 :E :D =:?<65 E@ C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am