(Le Mars) — Land values across the state have declined slightly, although in northwest Iowa, land values have remained steady to showing a slight increase. That’s according to a recent survey conducted by Iowa State University. Melissa O’Rourke is a farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She says the study does show a decrease of about four percent in land values. O’Rourke says it was not surprising to see a drop in the land values, given the fact that farm income is lower, but she says the surprise was how little the farmland values did go down.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/O’Rourke1.MP3{/audio}
O’Rourke says the average price of land per acre across the state was listed at $7,633 per acre. She says as noted earlier, northwest Iowa saw an increase in land values.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/O’Rourke2.MP3{/audio}
Scott county has the highest valued farmground, but O’Rourke points out that O’Brien County in northwest Iowa, is also among the highest priced land in the state.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/O’Rourke3.MP3{/audio}
The Iowa State University Farm Management Specialist says Sioux County’s land value remained statistically steady and unchanged.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/O’Rourke4.MP3{/audio}
Sioux County’s land value went from an average of $10,817 in 2014 to $10,813 in 2015.