After the weather, farmland values might well be the second most popular topic of conversation among farmers. Those with more than 30 years of experience in farming likely remember the 1980s with clarity. After dramatic increases in the 1970s, farmland values fell hard. Farmland values across the United States lost nearly half of their value between 1981 and 1987. From a high in 1981 to the low in 1987, farmland values in Indiana fell 55 percent for the state’s most productive land.

Falling incomes and devalued farmland triggered a financial crisis for farms and agribusinesses across the United States. Large numbers of farm bankruptcies followed. This period was dark and devastating for the entire agricultural community.

In recent years, farmland values have risen across the country and particularly throughout the Corn Belt. From 2004 to 2011, Indiana’s most productive farmland basically doubled in value, with Illinois and Iowa seeing even more dramatic increases. From 2010 to 2011 alone, Indiana land values jumped 22.8 percent. Many people are now questioning whether the dramatic run-up in farmland values is sustainable.

In an effort to discover how actual investors are navigating the market, the Center for Commercial Agriculture at Purdue University surveyed nearly 250 farmland market participants in late February 2012. The respondents represented a variety of backgrounds, including farmers, farmland investors, agricultural lenders and agribusinesses. Nearly half of the respondents indicated that their operation was primarily located in Indiana, with the vast majority of the remaining respondents representing the surrounding Corn Belt states. The survey results provide insight on the rapidly changing market and shed light on the attitudes, beliefs and expectations of the participants therein.

A Bubble Coming?

Results showed that respondents are concerned, with 54 percent indicating that the farmland market is in a bubble. However, larger and more experienced farmers were less likely to be concerned than buyers with fewer acres and fewer years of experience in the market. Overall, the results show that buyers are cautious but optimistic, as most (74 percent) plan to make additional land purchases within the next five years.

Differences of Opinions on Values

Respondents were asked to consider 80 acres of farmland with a typical production capability of 165 bushels of corn per acre under normal rain-fed conditions. They provided an estimate for their perceived value (what they would be willing to pay for it), what they felt it would rent for and what they thought it would sell for at auction. Their estimates of what they would pay varied considerably, with an average of about $6,179 per acre. Most respondents indicated that others would be willing to pay more at auction than they themselves thought the farm was worth. They were right — for all but four respondents of the survey, there was at least one respondent who had estimated the value of the land higher than what other respondents had said it would sell for at auction.

The Future of Land Values?

To measure confidence in future farmland values, respondents were asked about expected conditions five years from now. On average, respondents expected a modest (12.5 percent) increase over the next five years. This is substantially slower than recent growth. And what about a best- and worst-case scenario? On average, respondents said there was a 1 in 10 chance of seeing prices go below $4,550 and above $9,145.

Corn Prices and Land Values

A major contributor to the increase of farmland values has been an increase in commodity prices. Respondents were asked to report their estimates of cash corn prices over the next five years. Consistent with the general consensus that land values would modestly increase over the next five years, respondents, on average, also believe that current corn price levels are likely to persist, with an estimated average corn price of $5.41 per bushel in five years. They saw little chances of prices going lower than $4 or greater than $7 per bushel.

Perhaps the most surprising finding of the survey is shown in the next graph, illustrating the lack of correlation between current farmland values and expected cash corn prices. The expectation is that those who place high values on farmland would also tend to expect corn prices to be high. However, observation (and statistical analysis) reveals essentially no relationship between the two values. Respondents were all over the board in their estimates, and the correlation between these two variables was close to zero.

Cash or Credit?

Perhaps the most surprising finding of the survey is shown in the next graph, illustrating the lack of correlation between current farmland values and expected cash corn prices. The expectation is that those who place high values on farmland would also tend to expect corn prices to be high. However, observation (and statistical analysis) reveals essentially no relationship between the two values. Respondents were all over the board in their estimates, and the correlation between these two variables was close to zero.

Rental Rates

An important factor to consider when looking into the value of farmland is the cash rental rate of that land. In addition to being asked the value of the 80 acres of land with corn yields of 165 bushels, respondents were asked to evaluate the cash rental value. The average cash rental value was reported at $233 per acre. Respondents were willing to purchase land at approximately 27 times its cash rental value. A multiple of 27 is high in the context of the last 40 years, but consistent with current conditions in much of the Corn Belt. Further, respondents expect that multiples will stay at these levels as they forecasted cash rental rates and land values to increase in roughly the same proportion over the next five years.

Influencing Factors

There are a host of reasons why someone would purchase land. The survey asked respondents to evaluate 13 different factors that influence their interest in purchasing farmland. Of all the factors considered, the location of farmland for sale near their existing operation had the highest average importance rating. Nearly half of all those who wanted to make additional purchases indicated that this was an extremely important factor. Other factors that received high ratings included low interest rates on farm mortgages, the attractiveness of cash returns to farming and the safety of farmland investments. Factors viewed as much less important were the need to bring additional family members into the farming operation, needing the additional acreage to remain competitive and avoiding the risk of losing rented acreage.

Conclusion

Where farmland values ultimately go will be dependent upon the market and how economic conditions unfold. The wide ranges in perceived value and relatively limited amounts of farmland available for purchase suggest that market transactions will be driven by those with more optimistic views of the value of farmland. In general, the purchasing capacity of the people willing to pay the most will be a key determinant of how high land values ultimately go.

It is clear that there are a number of people with very positive attitudes about the future of farmland values. It is also clear that many have some concerns about the possibility for price increases to moderate. Overall, one might best characterize the majority of respondents as cautiously optimistic about future farmland values. ​