Every year about this time, I ask the same question — how can it be that it’s almost August?!? As we get older, I guess time just continues to accelerate. The current growing crop certainly reminds us how fast things can change and develop. We enjoyed some beneficial rains in early July and entered pollination time across Iowa in pretty good shape. Now, we just need a couple of timely rains to finish off what should be an average to average-plus crop.

The midsummer land market has continued to feature higher-than-normal sale volume, and still-strong prices. Late-June and early-July softening in the grain markets has taken just a bit of the excitement out of the land market, as have interest rates that continue to move higher. Both factors — grain markets and interest rates — historically play large in the land sale arena, and each is worth watching as fall approaches.

While I do not believe we’ve seen any softening in the market, I do believe we’re beginning to see a leveling off, of sorts, from the explosive value increases we have experienced over the past 18 to 24 months. As conditions in the country continue to evolve this fall, the land market will absorb the information and continue its constant pattern of adjustment. Every neighborhood is just a little different, so factors from area to area may vary. But as you can see, the sales below still reflect a very strong statewide market for farmland.

NORTHWEST
Plymouth County. About 96 acres southwest of Remsen recently sold at public auction for $25,000 per acre. The farm consisted of about 94 tillable acres with a CSR2 (corn suitability rating) of 92.7, and equaled $275 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTH CENTRAL
Hancock County. About 78 acres near Britt recently sold for $17,700 per acre. The farm consisted of about 77 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 88.5, and equaled $203 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

NORTHEAST
Black Hawk County. About 73 acres north of Waterloo recently sold at public auction for $15,100 per acre. The farm consisted of about 73 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 83.3, and equaled $181 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

WEST CENTRAL
Monona County. About 126 acres near Onawa recently sold at public auction for $16,600 per acre. The farm consisted of about 110 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 86.7, and equaled $219 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

CENTRAL
Boone County. About 40 acres north of Madrid recently sold at public auction for $17,100 per acre. The farm consisted of about 39 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 87.7, and equaled $200 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

EAST CENTRAL
Clinton County. About 119 acres south of Lost Nation recently sold at public auction for $16,800 per acre. The farm consisted of about 115 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 79.9, and equaled $217 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTHWEST
Page County. About 156 acres south of Stanton recently sold at online auction for $6,600 per acre. The farm consisted of about 154 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 61.2, and equaled $109 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTH CENTRAL
Clarke County. About 143 acres north of Woodburn recently sold at public auction for $6,650 per acre. The farm consisted of about 122 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 55.9, and equaled $139 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

SOUTHEAST
Henry County. About 74 acres northeast of Mount Pleasant recently sold at online auction for $16,000 per acre. The farm consisted of about 73 tillable acres with a CSR2 of 81.5, and equaled $199 per CSR2 point on the tillable acres.

Hertz Real Estate Services compiled this list, but not all sales were handled by Hertz. Call Hertz at 515-382-1500/800-593-5263 or visit Hertz.ag.