Early 2022 farmland sales have continued to carry the momentum of late 2021. Despite higher input prices for seed, fertilizer, equipment and other inputs, commodity prices early in the year also continued to inch higher.

Part of the creep higher for corn, soybeans and wheat prices is the result of shrinking crop production numbers in South America, while another part can be attributed to potential political instability coming out of Ukraine. Either way, the acreage battle is on for U.S. Corn Belt producers — and profit potential for 2022 is growing as markets rise.

Keep your eye on anything that may influence the above-mentioned production and political situations, because these topics influence both the grain markets and attitudes in farm country. And as we all know, grain markets and producer attitudes greatly impact land sales.

Likewise, keep your other eye locked on the Federal Reserve and its movements, which will influence the interest rate markets in the coming weeks and months.

The Fed’s stated desire to temper current inflation readings in our general economy — likely through interest rate increases — will also impact borrowing costs for everything, including farmland. The sales from the past 30 to 60 days show there’s still plenty of appetite and capacity to acquire additional land.

NORTHWEST

Clay County. West of Royal, 77 acres sold at public auction for $15,500 per acre. The farm consisted of 74 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 91.1, and equaled $177 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTH CENTRAL

Butler County. Near Aplington, 246 acres sold at public auction for $14,175 per acre. The farm consisted of 239 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 89, and equaled $164 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTHEAST

Bremer County. Northwest of Waverly, 56 acres sold at public auction for $15,100 per acre. The farm consisted of 56 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 88.7, and equaled $170 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

WEST CENTRAL

Crawford County. Southeast of Danbury, 80 acres sold at public auction for $13,600 per acre. The farm consisted of 77 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 57.8, and equaled $244 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

CENTRAL

Hardin County. East of Owasa, 199 acres sold at public auction for $13,900 per acre. The farm consisted of 189 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 86.4, and equaled $169 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

EAST CENTRAL

Muscatine County. West of Atalissa, 188 acres sold for $11,500 per acre. The farm consisted of 183 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 80.5, and equaled $147 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTHWEST

Mills County. North of Emerson, 158 acres sold at public auction for $12,600 per acre. The farm consisted of 152 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 80.9, and equaled $162 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTH CENTRAL

Lucas County. North of Chariton, 40 acres sold at public auction for $9,600 per acre. The farm consisted of 39 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 69.8, and equaled $141 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTHEAST

Henry County. Northeast of Mount Pleasant, 184 acres sold at public auction for $8,200 per acre. The farm consisted of 132 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 80, and equaled $143 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres. The balance of the farm was in wooded draws, a pond and a building site.

Hertz Real Estate Services compiled this list, but not all sales were handled by Hertz. Call Hertz at 800-593-5263 or visit hertz.ag.