What are the main factors that affect farmland values?

July 25, 2022

The value of farmland in America is increasing rapidly. This gives investors the opportunity to make money through fractional farmland ownership. However, it is important that any prospective investors understand the factors that affect farmland values. The main factors that affect farmland values include commodity prices, location, and demand. There are many other factors that affect farmland values, but it is especially important for prospective investors to understand these three. Read on to learn more about the factors that influence the value of farms for sale. 

Cropland vs. Pastureland

The type of agricultural land is perhaps the most important factor in determining a farm's value. Cropland is worth far more than pastureland, according to the USDA. This is because cropland is more profitable per acre than pastureland. This means that a relatively small farm that produces crops can be worth as much as a much larger farm that uses pastureland to raise and maintain livestock. While the difference between the per-acre value of cropland and pastureland varies by region, cropland is generally worth approximately three times as much per acre as pastureland. 

Region

Location is an important part of the value of all real estate, including farmland. According to the USDA, there are several reasons that location is important for farmland values. First, state and local laws could affect how profitable the farm is. Secondly, farms that are far from agricultural markets and processing facilities will be less valuable. This is because transportation costs will eat into the farm's profitability. 

Of course, the general economic conditions in America will cause fluctuations in the value of farmland. However, it is also important to note that an area's local economy will have a large impact on the value of farmland in that area. Farms located in areas with strong economies will be able to sell more of their produce locally, thus increasing their profitability. This, in turn, increases the farm's value.  

Demand for Farmland

The demand for farmland as an investment is increasing. This results in the value of farmland increasing. The USDA states that the value of farmland in America has increased steadily since 1988. As companies like FarmFundr make investing in farmland easier, more investors put money into farmland. This trend looks to continue for the foreseeable future. This means that the investors who get in early have a good chance of seeing the greatest return on their farmland investments.

Learn More About Investing in Farmland

Now that you are more familiar with farmland values, it's time to learn more about investing in farmland. With farmland values increasing in California, it's a great time to invest in California farmland. While purchasing a farm would be a prohibitively expensive venture for the vast majority of people, fractional ownership makes this investment possible for many investors.

FarmFundr is the leader in fractional farm ownership. You can open an account on FarmFundr to check out the various investment opportunities available. FarmFundr focuses on specialty crop operations with high profit potential. Learn more about the investment opportunities offered by opening a free account on FarmFundr today.