Land values remain stableLand values remain stable

With all of the uncertainty in agriculture these days — from international conflict, drought, high-input costs and volatile markets — you would think that might translate into a more tentative land market. But the opposite has been true throughout 2022.

Nebraska Farmer asked Jason Schendt and Luke Wallace, both brokers and land specialists with Whitetail Trophy Properties Real Estate, about the impacts of these factors on land values and the land market in general.

Schendt covers northern and northeastern Nebraska and south-central South Dakota, while Wallace covers southeastern counties in Nebraska.

“Although we received record-low rainfall throughout most of the state, the rural real estate market has remained strong,” Schendt says. “It could be attributed to a strong commodity market and above-average yields the previous year in 2021, and there is still plenty of cash on hand, as well, for many buyers.”

Most auction companies in the farm real estate market are experiencing higher-than-expected sale values, Schendt says.

Interest rates

“Although the interest rates factor into a large part of purchasing power in the agricultural market,” Wallace says, “we have yet to see it affect sale prices. There is generally a lag in the effect from increased rates to market decline. I believe we may see some of that in the near future.”

Production farms, including irrigated land and good-quality dryland property, are the most sought after, Schendt says. “Pasture is becoming a premium as well, due to the scarcity of grass acres and the drought, coupled with the strong cattle market,” he adds.

Investors are playing a role in the market, but both Schendt and Wallace say that buyers vary with each sale.

“We see many farm families and investors coming to the table in the tillable and pasture market,” Schendt says. “A majority of the recreational buyers are off-farm buyers, but some producers are realizing the value in that industry and are competing for those properties when they offer production acres.”

Both land specialists see the land market remaining strong into 2023. “Inventory of available land for sale and grain and beef prices will be the ultimate factors,” Wallace says. “Interest rates factor in, to an extent, but there may be enough cash buyers to offset those concerns.”

Learn more at whitetailproperties.com.