What Iowa and Illinois landowners need to know about current prices, market timing, and whether now is the right moment to sell.
It's one of the most common questions we hear from landowners across Iowa and Illinois: Is now a good time to sell my farmland? The honest answer is that it depends on your situation — but the market context in 2026 gives careful sellers real reasons to pay attention.
This guide walks through the key factors you should consider before making one of the largest financial decisions of your life.
"Most landowners only sell farmland once. Getting the timing and process right can mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Iowa farmland averaged $11,000 to $14,200 per acre for high-quality row crop ground in 2025, according to the ISU Extension Iowa Land Value Survey. Top counties like Hamilton, Story, and Grundy regularly see sales above $14,000 per acre. Even southern Iowa counties that historically lagged have seen meaningful appreciation over the past four years.
Illinois farmland tells a similar story. Top-producing counties like Champaign, McLean, DeKalb, and Grundy are seeing excellent ground trade at $15,000 to $17,000+ per acre, with good-quality ground across central Illinois in the $11,000 to $14,000 range.
Both states remain significantly above their 10-year historical averages. Prices have moderated from the 2022 peak but have not collapsed — and supply remains tight enough to keep values supported.
Even with some softening from the 2022 peak, farmland values in Iowa and Illinois are still near all-time highs by historical standards. If you purchased or inherited land decades ago, today's prices likely represent a generational opportunity to capture appreciation.
Many inherited farmland situations involve multiple heirs, estate complexity, or upcoming estate tax considerations. Selling while values are strong — and while current estate tax thresholds remain in place — can be a significant financial planning advantage. Talk to your CPA or estate attorney about your specific situation.
If your ground is leased below market rates, poorly drained, or simply not generating meaningful income relative to its value, selling and redeploying that capital may make more financial sense than holding.
If there's no family member ready or willing to farm the land, and you're approaching a point where managing it feels like a burden rather than an asset, selling is often the most straightforward path forward.
If your ground is leased at or near market rates and generating meaningful annual income, the math on selling isn't always obvious. Iowa cash rent averages $270 to $380 per acre in strong counties — that's real ongoing income that disappears when you sell.
Ground near growing metro areas — particularly around Des Moines, the Quad Cities, or suburban Illinois — may carry development potential that isn't fully priced into current agricultural values. In fast-growing counties like Dallas and Warren in Iowa, or Kendall and Will in Illinois, holding can be a legitimate strategy.
Long-held farmland often has a very low cost basis, meaning a sale can trigger substantial capital gains taxes. A 1031 exchange, installment sale, or other structured approach may help — but these require advance planning. Don't make a selling decision without understanding your tax exposure first.
The best next step for most landowners considering a sale is a free, no-obligation consultation with a local land specialist. A good land broker will walk you through current comparable sales in your area, give you an honest opinion of value, and help you understand the process — without any pressure to list immediately.
Our tools connect Iowa and Illinois landowners with local land specialists at no cost. Start with a free instant estimate, then decide if you want to take the next step.