Illinois Farm Real Estate Values Increase After Three Years of Decreases

 

 

Each year the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the USDA releases estimated average farm real estate values by state.  The estimates are based on surveys of farmers from selected geographical areas.  The surveys follow strict statistical guidelines.  Estimated values maybe revised the following year based on additional information.  Revisions may also be made based on data from the 5-year Census of Agriculture.  The methodology and timing of the study has changed over time but the statistical information provides some insight as to the changes in farm real estate values from year to year.

 

 

The average Illinois farm real estate values from 1970 through 2018 are listed in Table 1 and graphically in Figure 1.  The average farm real estate value for Illinois in 2018 was $7,450 per acre.  This includes the value of all land and buildings.  The figure was 2.1 percent higher than the 2017 average of $7,300 per acre.  The 2018 increase is the forst time in three years.  Even with the slight decrease in the prior three years, Illinois farm real estate values for 2018 was 67% higher than the 2009 value of $4,450 ten years ago.

 

 

Since 1970, average farm real estate values have declined only eight times as compared to the previous year.  Those years were 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2017.  The last time there were three years in a row with a decrease was 1985, 1986 and 1987, however the decreases in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were very small compared to those years.  There have been four years when farm real estate values increased over 20 percent, in 1974, 1976, 1977 and 2005.  The largest increase was in 1977 when values rose 37.3 percent.

 

From 1995 through 1999, average farm real estate values increased between 4.2% and 9% annually.  From 2000 to 2004, farm real estate increased between 1.3% and 5.3%.  From 2005 to 2009 the change in average farm real estate values had ranged from -2.2% to 25.4%.  From 2010 to 2014, the increase in farmland values has averaged 11.1%.

 

 

The farm real estate value data is used to construct index numbers of Illinois farmland values.  The index can be found at the farmdoc website here.