Land Market News & Analysis
Stories, data, and updates shaping the US land market — newest first.
Latest Stories
A New IRS Rule Lets Farmland Sellers Defer Most of Their Tax Bill — But Only If They Sell to a Working Farmer
Section 1062 lets qualifying farmland sellers pay the federal tax attributable to gain in four interest-free annual installments when selling to a working farmer.
Drought Now Covers 81% of the Country — But Pastureland Values Are Still Climbing
Drought now covers 81.1% of the continental U.S., while South Dakota pastureland values climbed 15.9% amid scarce forage and record cattle prices.
Congress Advances Bipartisan Bill to Help Families Keep Inherited Land
The HEIRS Act cleared the House Financial Services Committee 51-0 on Sept. 1, 2026, authorizing $10M/year in HUD grants to help families untangle heirs' property.
More Stories
Flash Drought Grips the Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley as Harvest-Season Heat Deepens
Flash drought expanded across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri this week as harvest-season heat pushed conditions to their worst since spring.
Two-Thirds of North Carolina Now in Drought as Reservoirs Drop — What It Means for Farmland and Land Sales
NC DEQ reports two-thirds of counties now in drought, five in exceptional conditions, as reservoirs and streamflows drop statewide — what it means for landowners.
Midwest Farmland Auction Season Kicks Off: 16,000+ Acres Hit the Block This September
Over 16,000 acres of North Dakota and Illinois farmland head to auction this September as tight margins and higher borrowing costs slow cropland demand — but pasture stays strong.
Kansas Ranchers Say Record Land Values — Not Just Herd Size — Are Driving the Beef Price Debate
Kansas land values just hit a new record high. A K-State economist explains why that — as much as herd size — is fueling the fight over beef prices.
Iowa Farmland Tops $19,000 an Acre in Last Week's Auctions — But Not Every Farm Found a Buyer
Iowa farmland sold for $7,700 to $19,000 an acre in one week of auctions — while four other farms got no sale at all. Here's what it means for land value.
Alex Trebek's Former Ranch Sells for $16.9M — Half Its Original Asking Price
Windfall Farms, Alex Trebek's former 724-acre Paso Robles ranch, sold at auction for $16.9M — half its original $33M asking price. What it means for land sellers.
Wheat Prices Hit 3-Year High Amid Black Sea Crisis
Chicago wheat just hit a 3-year high on Black Sea supply fears. See what the grain rally could mean for U.S. farmland values heading into fall.
Montana Stimson Conservation Easement: 20,629 Acres Protected
Montana just finalized a $29.2M conservation easement protecting 20,629 acres of Stimson Lumber timberland in the Cabinet Mountains from development.
3 Days Left: USDA's Base Acre Deadline Closes Monday
USDA's one-time base acre expansion window closes Aug. 31 — the first update since 2002. Landowners have days left before new acreage locks in for good.
Illinois Farmland Hits $9,250 an Acre — Sixth Straight Record Year, But Iowa and Ohio Are Pulling Ahead
Illinois farm real estate hit a record $9,250/acre in 2026, its sixth consecutive annual gain — but Iowa ($10,100) and Ohio ($9,650) now lead the Corn Belt.
Farm Bankruptcies by State: New Federal Data Shows Where Stress Is Concentrated
New NASDA/Ag Law Center data tracks farm bankruptcies beyond Chapter 12 — California, Arkansas, Georgia and Iowa lead the count since 2021.
Drought Disaster Declared Across Nearly All of Oklahoma, August 2026
USDA has designated 61 Oklahoma counties as primary drought disaster areas, with 16 contiguous counties also eligible. Ranchers are feeding hay two months early.