Farmland

Farmers were more optimistic about the agriculture economy in December, according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer.

Build your land management and leasing knowledge while networking with other women in agriculture at the workshop series, “The Power of Negotiation & Communication: Land Leasing Strategies for Midwestern Women in Ag.”

Since early 2021, there has been a dramatic upward shift in the value of cropland. Howard Halderman, president of Halderman Real Estate and Farm Management, discussed trends during a webinar.

Volatility in the agricultural economy is expected to continue into 2023, according to Brent Gloy, economist at Agriculture Economic Insights. Gloy was a featured speaker during a webinar hosted by Halderman Real Estate.

Are we headed back to the ‘80s, the time of sky-high interest rates and farm bankruptcies? Some massive catastrophic events would have to happen first — and Pat Karst doesn’t see any or all of those happening anytime soon.

Midwest agricultural land values in the 7th Federal Reserve District had a year-over-year average gain of 20% in the third quarter of 2022.

Landowners and farmers can learn more about the various tools, trends and legal protections available with farmland leasing by participating in the Purdue Extension virtual workshop, “Digging Deeper Into Land Leases.”

Two major farmland auctions recently attracted capacity crowds, with bidders coming from as far away as Florida and Tennessee. Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company marketed both farms and conducted the live auctions.

Illinois’ farmers and ranchers will soon be able to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory.

Ivan Dozier, Illinois state conservationist, announced the application period for the fiscal year 2023 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program — Wetland Reserve Easements.

The story on farmland prices and values remains a good news story, even in spite of some recent hurdles. “For sellers, we’re telling them it’s a great time to sell. Land prices are at an all-time high, even adjusted for inflation,” said Pat Karst.

Who’s buying farmland? That is a question that Halderman Real Estate and Farm Management agents have had to answer more than once in the last few months.

Area farmers and landowners are invited to the fourth annual Common Ground Gathering from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at Soulful Prairies in Woodstock.

Despite rising interest rates and continued economic uncertainty, high-quality tillable properties in Illinois continue to see strong demand. That was the result for a recent farm auction in eastern Hancock County, which sold for an upper-range price of $17,000 per acre.

I was on a conference call recently and one of the participants asked the question: Who are the two biggest owners of tillable ground in the United States? The first was easy. We all knew Bill Gates has been making headlines with his farmland purchases.