Pastureland Values Hit New High

The average value of pastureland across America took a jump from last year.  The average value is $1,350 per acre, up 1.5% from last year.  That value is a record-high since the USDA first began keeping records.

As a comparison, the average acre of cropland is worth $4,090, the same as in 2016.  In different parts of the country, pastureland values vary by a wide margin:

The Southeast has the highest pasture values in the country at $3,910 per acre.

The Northeast at $3,420 per acre, the Appalachian region at $3,340, the Delta at $2,480, and the Corn Belt at $2,380.

The Delta states saw the highest average increase since last year at 2.9%.

Among the Delta States, Lousiana saw the largest overall jump in value of 3.8% to $2,700 per acre. The largest decrease of any region in the country came in the Corn Belt, where average prices came in 1.7% lower than in 2016. Iowa pastureland prices dropped 8.8% to an average of $3,100 per acre. Illinois values dropped 2.9% per acre and Ohio was 1.6% lower than last year.

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