Iowa Farmland Prices August 2025: Auction Results & Market Trends
Welcome to Our Monthly Iowa Farmland Value Report
In this monthly report, we dive into Iowa farmland values, helping you understand the factors that determine what your farm is potentially worth. Our goal as auctioneers and farmland real estate agents is to provide you with up-to-date information, recent sales data, expert insights, and tips for maximizing the potential value of your farmland sale. Let us answer the questions you have about selling farmland in Iowa. Contact us today for a free consultation.
🌽 Iowa Farmland Market Update – August 2025
The Iowa farmland market held firm in August 2025, with average prices pushing higher month-over-month while overall values remain below last year’s peak. Auction activity picked up as more acres hit the market, showing that farmland demand is still healthy despite a more cautious buyer environment.
Jason J Smith
Auctioneer & Land Broker
Jason is an experienced farmland broker and auctioneer with extensive experience in farmland sales across this Midwest. Jason has worked with hundreds of clients to create advantageous outcomes. If you are selling land schedule a consultation with Jason by calling or using the calendar.
Phone: 515-537-6633 Email: [email protected]
📊 August 2025 Sales Snapshot (80% or more tillable farms)
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Total Acres Sold: 4,218 acres (43 sales, 8,436 acres in detailed dataset)
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Average Price/Acre: $12,576
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Average CSR2: 79.6
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Average $/CSR2: $159
Sales were dominated by high-quality tracts, with nearly 94.5% tillable acres on average. Farms with CSR2 scores above 80 consistently brought $13,000–$17,000/acre, reaffirming the premium on top-tier soils.
- See full results from all tracts of farmland that sold in table at end of the page.
📍 County Highlights
Several counties stood out in August:
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Dallas County – Highest sale of the month at $25,100/acre (43 acres, CSR2 88.3)
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Plymouth County – Averaged $20,250/acre across 2 sales (80 acres)
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Montgomery County – 2 sales averaging $16,050/acre (72 acres)
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Buena Vista County – High-quality farm at $15,900/acre, CSR2 97.1
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Sac County – Averaged $15,450/acre on 2 sales (209 acres)
Counties with the most acres sold included Palo Alto (735 acres), Poweshiek (432 acres), Butler (421 acres), and Kossuth (377 acres).
📈 Month-to-Month Change (July → August 2025)
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July 2025: 1,687 acres sold | $12,133/acre
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August 2025: 4,218 acres sold | $12,576/acre
➡️ Acres sold increased 150%
➡️ Prices per acre rose 3.6%
The August market not only saw more land selling, but it also sold at higher prices than July, showing renewed strength as summer progressed.
📉 Year-over-Year Change (August 2024 → August 2025)
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August 2024: 3,621 acres sold | $13,667/acre
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August 2025: 4,218 acres sold | $12,576/acre
➡️ Acres sold increased 16.5%
➡️ Prices declined 8% year-over-year
Compared to last August, more acres traded hands, but at lower average values. Buyers are more price-sensitive, but demand for quality farmland remains strong.
💰 Auction Activity
In total, nearly $100 million in farmland value sold at auction in August.
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Acres sold: 8,436 acres across all reported sales
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Largest county by volume: Palo Alto, with 735 acres across 8 sales
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Competitive counties: Butler, Poweshiek, and Kossuth also saw over 400 acres each sold at strong prices
🔑 Key Takeaways
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More acres are hitting the market – up 150% from July and up 16.5% from last year.
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Prices are stable to slightly lower – up from last month, but down 8% compared to August 2024.
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High-quality soils remain king – CSR2 80+ farms consistently outperform, often $13,000–$17,000/acre.
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Auction demand remains strong – Nearly $100 million worth of farmland sold in August alone.
🌱 Acres Sold at Auction
Auction activity surged in August 2025, with over 4,200 acres changing hands statewide, more than double July’s total. Compared to last August, acreage sold increased by 16.5%, signaling that more landowners are choosing to bring farms to market despite slightly lower average prices.
If selling is on your mind, now is a great time to start the conversation. Our team is here to guide you through your options with expert support every step of the way. Just fill out this short form, and one of our experienced auctioneers or land brokers will be in touch soon!
✍️ Final Thought
The August numbers reinforce a steady farmland market. While values aren’t at 2022–2023 highs, Iowa land continues to perform well, holding in the $12,500/acre range statewide. Sellers are bringing more acres to auction, and buyers are still showing up with strong bids for the right farms.
Recently Sold Land in Iowa Price Results
| Date | County | Sold Acres | $ Per Acre | Total | Tillable Acres | % Tillable | CSR2 | $/CSR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2025 | Mahaska | 104 | $7,275 | $756,600 | 87.05 | 83.70 | 64.5 | $113 |
| 08/05/2025 | Kossuth | 225.58 | $11,700 | $2,639,286 | 219.1 | 97.13 | 80 | $146 |
| 08/06/2025 | Iowa | 146.73 | $11,600 | $1,702,068 | 141.46 | 96.41 | 71.4 | $162 |
| 08/07/2025 | Warren | 50.14 | $10,300 | $516,442 | 42.51 | 84.78 | 85.2 | $121 |
| 08/11/2025 | Cherokee | 120 | $9,800 | $1,176,000 | 117 | 97.50 | 80 | $123 |
| 08/11/2025 | Cherokee | 160 | $10,100 | $1,616,000 | 155 | 96.88 | 83.8 | $121 |
| 8/12/2025 | Poweshiek | 100 | $10,100 | $1,010,000 | 92.23 | 92.23 | 49.9 | $202 |
| 8/12/2025 | Poweshiek | 121 | $11,600 | $1,403,600 | 112 | 92.56 | 65.6 | $177 |
| 8/14/2025 | Cedar | 43 | $15,700 | $675,100 | 43 | 100.00 | 91.7 | $171 |
| 8/14/2025 | O'Brien | 117 | $15,500 | $1,813,500 | 113.73 | 97.21 | 92.6 | $167 |
| 8/14/2025 | Monona | 199.09 | $6,675 | $1,328,926 | 199.09 | 100.00 | 42.9 | $156 |
| 8/14/2025 | Tama | 155.95 | $12,700 | $1,980,565 | 150.59 | 96.56 | 89.8 | $141 |
| 8/15/2024 | Sac | 131.66 | $15,700 | $2,067,062 | 129.59 | 98.43 | 95.9 | $164 |
| 8/15/2025 | Plymouth | 40.22 | $20,400 | $820,488 | 40 | 99.45 | 68.6 | $297 |
| 8/15/2025 | Plymouth | 40.1 | $20,100 | $806,010 | 40 | 99.75 | 68.6 | $293 |
| 8/18/2025 | Montgomery | 25 | $22,000 | $550,000 | 20 | 80.00 | 85 | $259 |
| 8/18/2025 | Montgomery | 47.2 | $10,100 | $476,720 | 45 | 95.34 | 81.1 | $125 |
| 8/19/2025 | Palo Alto | 155.7 | $15,600 | $2,428,920 | 154.4 | 99.17 | 86.6 | $180 |
| 8/19/2025 | Palo Alto | 78.64 | $8,100 | $636,984 | 75.83 | 96.43 | 85.1 | $95 |
| 8/19/2025 | Palo Alto | 79 | $13,800 | $1,090,200 | 75.83 | 95.99 | 81.5 | $169 |
| 8/19/2025 | Palo Alto | 78.75 | $10,000 | $787,500 | 76.71 | 97.41 | 81.2 | $123 |
| 8/19/2025 | Palo Alto | 155.1 | $8,800 | $1,364,880 | 156.32 | 100.79 | 83.6 | $105 |
| 8/19/2025 | Cerro Gordo | 86 | $8,400 | $722,400 | 73.41 | 85.36 | 69.1 | $122 |
| 8/20/2025 | Dickinson | 113.9 | $13,200 | $1,503,480 | 107.28 | 94.19 | 88.1 | $150 |
| 8/21/2025 | Dallas | 43.44 | $25,100 | $1,090,344 | 41.99 | 96.66 | 88.3 | $284 |
| 8/21/2025 | Sac | 77 | $15,200 | $1,170,400 | 75.1 | 97.53 | 97.1 | $157 |
| 8/21/2025 | Poweshiek | 211 | $14,700 | $3,101,700 | 199.74 | 94.66 | 71 | $207 |
| 8/25/2025 | Winnebago | 160 | $10,600 | $1,696,000 | 142.89 | 89.31 | 79.8 | $133 |
| 8/27/2025 | Audubon | 77.74 | $12,000 | $932,880 | 72.72 | 93.54 | 72.2 | $166 |
| 8/27/2025 | Kossuth | 151.27 | $12,700 | $1,921,129 | 151.04 | 99.85 | 82.2 | $155 |
| 8/27/2025 | Palo Alto | 40 | $11,000 | $440,000 | 36.08 | 90.20 | 88.1 | $125 |
| 8/27/2025 | Palo Alto | 72.1 | $12,600 | $908,460 | 70.1 | 97.23 | 86.6 | $145 |
| 8/27/2025 | Palo Alto | 75.6 | $6,700 | $506,520 | 72.9 | 96.43 | 73.5 | $91 |
| 8/27/2025 | Butler | 231.94 | $7,650 | $1,774,341 | 209.16 | 90.18 | 82.9 | $92 |
| 8/27/2025 | Butler | 71.7 | $12,000 | $860,400 | 71.7 | 100.00 | 85.3 | $141 |
| 8/27/2025 | Butler | 39 | $17,300 | $674,700 | 39 | 100.00 | 89.5 | $193 |
| 8/27/2025 | Butler | 78.49 | $16,800 | $1,318,632 | 75.52 | 96.22 | 85.5 | $196 |
| 8/28/2025 | Hamilton | 44.8 | $9,000 | $403,200 | 35.77 | 79.84 | 82 | $110 |
| 8/28/2025 | Hamilton | 37.23 | $6,000 | $223,380 | 29.94 | 80.42 | 52.2 | $115 |
| 8/28/2025 | Buena Vista | 77 | $15,900 | $1,224,300 | 75.1 | 97.53 | 97.1 | $164 |
| 8/29/2025 | O'Brien | 109.68 | $10,000 | $1,096,800 | 100 | 91.17 | 78.8 | $127 |
| 8/29/2025 | O'Brien | 46.45 | $13,700 | $636,365 | 46.2 | 99.46 | 78.8 | $174 |
| Totals/averages | 4,218.20 | $12,576 | $49,852,282 | 4,012.08 | 94.46 | 79.59 | $159 |
Navigating the Selling Process:
Tips for Selling Your Farm in Iowa
Explore a set of practical tips for successfully selling your farmland by downloading our free eBooks here. Schedule a non obligatory consultation with us today and we will cover everything from when is the best time to sell, a customized marketing plan, sales methods, how we can help you find the right buyer, and answer your questions.
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Iowa Land Market Analysis Appraisal Technique
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