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Kansas land sales slow through summer

Land Sales: While the number of acres on offer was lower, demand was higher or steady.

Jennifer M. Latzke, Editor

August 10, 2023

2 Min Read
silos in field under cloudy skies
KANSAS SUMMER LAND SALES: The month of July saw fewer land sales in the state, but interest from buyers remained high. Ron Watts/Getty Images

Kansas land auctions through July slowed considerably across the state. Still, what land was for sale did bring interest from buyers — both local property owners and out-of-area land investors.

An auction of 562 acres of Marshall County farmland sold in 6 tracts July 29. Tracts 1 and 2 were a combined 326 acres of Little Blue River bottomland without irrigation, but which included senior water rights on 36 acres that are enrolled in a water conservation program. The two tracts together sold for an average of $15,043 per acre. Tract 3 was 53 acres that included 34 acres of cropland in the Little Blue River bottom with no water rights or irrigation. It sold for $12,146 per acre.

Tract 4 was about 100 acres of a mix of pasture and recreational hunting land with access to the Little Blue River for fishing, and it sold for $3,400 per acre. Tract 5 was the farm’s homesite — with a ranch-style home built in 1961 on 7 acres with outbuildings, city water and electric — that sold for $265,000. Tract 6 was 71 acres of cropland along Highway 9 west of Waterville, Kan., featuring classes 1 and 2 soils. Tract 6 sold for $16,178 per acre.

The seller was Pishney Four LLC. Midwest Land & Home, Washington, Kan., handled the sale.

Cheyenne County. About 240 acres of Cheyenne County land was sold at auction July 27. The land, sold in one tract, included 363 acres of cropland and 228 acres of pasture with multiple ponds. The property, just north of St. Francis, Kan., offered good access to transportation and is in an area of active oil exploration. Buyers received all of the seller’s interest in the mineral rights. Both tracts were planted to a 2023 wheat crop, with the seller retaining that crop. The seller was willing to stay on as a tenant and cash-rent one or both tracts.  

Tract 1 was 159 acres of wheat and expired Conservation Reserve Program land and sold for $2,300 per acre. Tract 2 was 78 acres of wheat and corn and sold for $3,400 per acre. The seller was SKR Land LLC. Farm & Ranch Realty, Colby, Kan., handled the sale.

About the Author(s)

Jennifer M. Latzke

Editor, Kansas Farmer

Through all her travels, Jennifer M. Latzke knows that there is no place like Kansas.

Jennifer grew up on her family’s multigenerational registered Angus seedstock ranch and diversified farm just north of Woodbine, Kan., about 30 minutes south of Junction City on the edge of the Kansas Flint Hills. Rock Springs Ranch State 4-H Center was in her family’s backyard.

While at Kansas State University, Jennifer was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority and a national officer for the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. She graduated in May 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and a minor in animal science. In August 2000 Jennifer started her 20-year agricultural writing career in Dodge City, Kan., on the far southwest corner of the state.

She’s traveled across the U.S. writing on wheat, sorghum, corn, cotton, dairy and beef stories as well as breaking news and policy at the local, state and national levels. Latzke has traveled across Mexico and South America with the U.S. Wheat Associates and toured Vietnam as a member of KARL Class X. She’s traveled to Argentina as one of 10 IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism. And she was part of a delegation of AAEA: The Ag Communicators Network members invited to Cuba.

Jennifer’s an award-winning writer, columnist, and podcaster, recognized by the Kansas Professional Communicators, Kansas Press Association, the National Federation of Presswomen, Livestock Publications Council, and AAEA. In 2019, Jennifer reached the pinnacle of achievements, earning the title of “Writer of Merit” from AAEA.

Trips and accolades are lovely, but Jennifer says she is happiest on the road talking to farmers and ranchers and gathering stories and photos to share with readers.

“It’s an honor and a great responsibility to be able to tell someone’s story and bring them recognition for their work on the land,” Jennifer says. “But my role is also evolving to help our more urban neighbors understand the issues our Kansas farmers face in bringing the food and fiber to their store shelves.”

She spends her time gardening, crafting, watching K-State football, and cheering on her nephews and niece in their 4-H projects. She can be found on Twitter at @Latzke.

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