How to Read the USDA Land Values Report — Farm Real Estate, Cropland and Pasture Values per Acre
USDA NASS Land Values 2026 (48 states, dollars per acre, released July 31): farm real estate $4,500 (+3.4% from 2025), cropland $6,020 (+3.3%), pasture $2,000 (+4.2%).
Key figures (Land Values 2026 Summary, July 31, 2026)
As of 1 November 2026, 00:25 KST; most recently published report: Land Values 2026 Summary, released July 31, 2026, by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), with average values per acre for 2026 by state, region and the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). The NASS July 2026 calendar lists the release at 3:00 pm ET; the report is annual, and the publication page listed no upcoming date when checked. Primary source: https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/release-files/795999/land0726.txt[1][2][3]
| Indicator (dollars per acre, 48 states) | Previous (2025, as printed in the 2026 report) | Current (2026) | Change vs previous (published) | Change vs year ago: same as previous for an annual series; shown instead: change vs 2024 (two-year change; this page's calculation) | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm real estate (land and buildings), United States | 4,350 | 4,500 | +$150, +3.4% | +7.9% from 4,170 in 2024 | levels and changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record (changes as published); levels: USDA NASS primary statistical record; two-year change: this page's calculation |
| Cropland, United States | 5,830 | 6,020 | +$190, +3.3% | +8.1% from 5,570 in 2024 | levels and changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record (changes as published); levels: USDA NASS primary statistical record; two-year change: this page's calculation |
| Pasture, United States | 1,920 | 2,000 | +$80, +4.2% | +9.3% from 1,830 in 2024 | levels and changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record (changes as published); levels: USDA NASS primary statistical record; two-year change: this page's calculation |
| Farm real estate, Corn Belt region | 8,250 | 8,540 | +3.5% | not computed | levels and changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record (changes as published) |
| Cropland, Iowa | 10,300 | 10,700 | +3.9% | not computed | levels and changes: USDA NASS primary statistical record (changes as published) |
Comparison basis: values are as published, in dollars per acre rounded by NASS; 2025 values are those printed in the 2026 report, which NASS says are subject to annual revision. Because the series is annual, the previous value and the year-ago value are the same year; the extra column shows the two-year change from 2024, this page's calculation rounded to one decimal. The report, publication page and calendar are all from USDA and count as one source.[1]
In three lines
1. The annual NASS report gives average values per acre of farm real estate (land and buildings), cropland and pasture for the 48 contiguous states, by region and state.
2. In 2026, U.S. farm real estate averaged $4,500 per acre, up 3.4% from 2025; cropland averaged $6,020 and pasture $2,000.
3. The figures come mainly from an April-June survey whose stratified random sample included approximately 30,000 operations.[1]
What the report says (in NASS's words)
"The United States farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $4,500 per acre for 2026, up $150 per acre (3.4 percent) from 2025." "The United States cropland value averaged $6,020 per acre, an increase of $190 per acre (3.3 percent) from the previous year." "The United States pasture value averaged $2,000 per acre, an increase of $80 per acre (4.2 percent) from 2025."[1]
How the survey works. "The estimates of land values in this report are based primarily on the Agricultural Land Values Survey conducted from April to June." "This annual survey uses a stratified random sample from the NASS list frame." "A sample of approximately 30,000 operations were included." "The Regional and United States estimates are weighted by the amount of cropland and pasture in each State, based on the most recent Census of Agriculture." "As such, the estimates reflect an average of land values for the year."[1]
What is valued. NASS defines farm real estate value as "The value at which all land and buildings used for agricultural production, including dwellings, could be sold under current market conditions, if allowed to remain on the market for a reasonable amount of time." For cropland: "Land that switches back and forth between cropland and pasture should be valued as cropland." "For the purposes of this report, cropland pastured is defined as cropland."[1]
Reading in pairs
Per acre vs total value. The per-acre averages are for 2026, but the table of total value of farmland and buildings runs only to 2025 ($3,658,117 million, up 4.0% from 2024); the report derives that total by multiplying the average value per acre of farm real estate by land in farms.[1]
States vs the national average. Among the states shown, Rhode Island had the highest 2026 farm real estate value ($23,600 per acre) and New Mexico the lowest ($735), and Tennessee the largest increase from 2025 (5.7%). National averages are weighted by each state's cropland and pasture, so they are not simple averages of the state figures; the report does not explain the state differences.[1]
Published vs withheld. "State averages are not published for States with limited reports to ensure confidentiality of individual operations." Several states show (D) for earlier years in the cropland and pasture tables.[1]
First estimate vs revised. "For non-census years, land values are subject to an annual revision the following year." "After the 5-year Census of Agriculture is completed, land value estimates for the non-census years are subject to a final historic revision." The report gives no sampling error in its text and refers to a separate NASS methodology and quality publication.[1]
Verified facts
Each fact is labelled with its evidence typeEach fact in this section carries its evidence type — either cross-checked against independent sources, or confirmed from a single authoritative record.
U.S. farm real estate value averaged $4,500 per acre in 2026, up $150 (3.4 percent) from 2025, according to NASS.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
U.S. cropland value averaged $6,020 per acre in 2026, up 3.3 percent from 2025.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
U.S. pasture value averaged $2,000 per acre in 2026, up 4.2 percent from 2025.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
The total value of U.S. farmland and buildings was $3,658,117 million in 2025, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
NASS based its 2026 land value estimates mainly on a survey of approximately 30,000 operations conducted from April to June.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
Statements and readings
Not counted as facts — each item shows what kind of statement it isFrom here on: statements not counted as facts — single-source reports, the issuing body’s own statements, and this page’s own readings, each labeled.
U.S. farm real estate value rose 7.9% over two years, from $4,170 per acre in 2024 to $4,500 in 2026.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's calculation from the 2026 report
Among the states shown, Tennessee recorded the largest 2025-2026 increase in farm real estate value, 5.7%.[1] This page’s own calculation or reading · This page's reading of the state table
Timeline
What this page could not establish
These are questions this page tried to answer and could not. The gaps are left open rather than filled with a guess.- Why did pasture values rise faster than cropland values in 2026?
- How large is the sampling error of the 2026 averages?
- Model
- claude-opus-5
- Time
- 11/01/2026, 00:28
- Body characters
- 5,497
- Sources
- 3 sources adopted
- Model
- ChatGPT (checked sources on the web)
- Time
- 11/01/2026, 00:34
- Verdict
- Revision required
Show revision history (3)
| 11/01/2026, 09:00 | First authored (claude-opus-5) | Created |
| 11/01/2026 | First version. Read in full the USDA NASS Land Values 2026 Summary of July 31, 2026, including farm real estate, cropland, irrigated and non-irrigated cropland, pasture and total value tables, region definitions, methodology and definitions, plus the publication page and the NASS July 2026 release calendar; quotations are complete sentences matched against the source text. | Updated |
| 11/01/2026 | Revised after review: the fifth column is labeled as the change versus 2024, a two-year change calculated by this page; the survey description says the April-June survey used a stratified random sample that included approximately 30,000 operations. | Updated |
Frequently asked
What was the average U.S. farm real estate value per acre in 2026?
$4,500 per acre for land and buildings on farms in the 48 contiguous states, up $150 (3.4%) from 2025, according to the NASS report of July 31, 2026.[1]
What was the average U.S. cropland value per acre in 2026?
$6,020 per acre, up $190 (3.3%) from 2025; land that switches between cropland and pasture is valued as cropland.[1]
Does the 2026 U.S. farm real estate value include buildings?
Yes: the $4,500 per acre covers all land and buildings used for agricultural production, including dwellings, valued at what they could sell for under current market conditions.[1]
How was the 2026 U.S. land values survey conducted?
The April-June 2026 survey used a stratified random sample that included approximately 30,000 operations; national figures are weighted by each state's cropland and pasture from the latest Census of Agriculture.[1]
Could the 2026 U.S. land value estimates change?
Yes: in non-census years land values are revised the following year, and after the 5-year Census of Agriculture they get a final historic revision.[1]
What was the total value of U.S. farmland and buildings in the July 2026 report?
$3,658,117 million for 2025 (the latest year in that table), up 4.0% from 2024, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.[1]