Prices for farmland near some of the larger cities in South Dakota and North Dakota are inflated by their housing development potential. But what if the housing eligibilities have already been sold off? Then the sale price may better reflect the true agricultural value. See the results from such an auction, and others, held this fall:

Good access to processing plants
Approximately 437 acres in Lake County, S.D., sold for $4,975 at an auction in October. One of the land’s selling points: It was located close to Dakota Ethanol, Wentworth, and South Dakota Soybean Processors, Volga. — Auction managed and conducted by Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker, Sioux Falls, S.D. Phone: 605-336-6315. suttonauction.com.

N.D. cropland sells for $2,750 per acre
In Barnes County, N.D., approximately 480 acres close to State Highway 32 sold for $2,750 per acre. The tracts making up the property were all close together. — Sale managed by Farmers National Co. farmersnational.com.

Kingsburg County, S.D., quarter brings $5,500 per acre
A quarter section of gently rolling farmland in Kingsbury County, S.D., sold for $5,500 per acre at an auction in October. All but three acres were tillable. The productivity index was 76.2. — Auction managed and conducted by Wieman Land and Auction Co., Marion, S.D. Phone: 800-251-3111. wiemanauction.com.

Central South Dakota sale
About 640 acres of farmland and Beadle and Brown counties in South Dakota sold for $3,325 per acre. The average soil productivity indexes of the two tracts was 81.9% and 79%. “The beauty of this land is seen all around with it being convenient for the modern-day farmer with a flat, tillable topography, minimal waste acres and productive dirt,” the sale bill read. — Auction managed and conducted by Advantage Land Co., Brookings, S.D. Phone: 605-692-2525. advantagelandco.com.

No housing eligibilities
Approximately 265 acres sold in two parcels in Lincoln County near Canton brought for $6,150 and $5,000 per acre. Both had a high percentage of tillable land. Both had the housing eligibilities sold off, thus the auction provided an opportunity to purchase land for its agricultural value, according to the sale bill. — Auction managed and conducted by Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker, Sioux Falls, S.D. Phone: 605-336-6315. suttonauction.com.

Farm near Redfield, S.D., brings $2,482 per acre
Approximately 638 acres near Redfield, S.D., in Spink and Faulk counties sold for $2,482 per acre in an online auction in August. The tracts included cropland, pasture, hay land and pheasant and deer habitat. Some of the cropland was fenced and has water sources and could be fall grazed. — Auction managed and conducted by Advantage Land Co., Brookings, S.D. Phone: 605-692-2525. advantagelandco.com.

Farmland and pasture sells for $3,010
Approximately 320 acres of Douglas County, S.D., farmland and pasture sold for $3,010 per acre at an auction in October. “An amazing, all contiguous, mile long tract,” the sale bill read. — Auction managed and conducted by Wieman Land and Auction Co., Marion, S.D. Phone: 800-251-3111. wiemanauction.com.

Brookings County, S.D., land sells for $4,175 per acre
Two hundred and thirteen acres in Brookings County, S.D., sold for $4,175 per acre. Approximately 180 acres were in being cropped and with the balance in pasture. — Auction managed and Conducted by Burlage Peterson Realty, Brookings, S.D. Phone 605-692-7102. burlagepeterson.com.