Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report

Nebraska Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates

2025 Preliminary Results

Updated March 12, 2025

The market value of agricultural land in Nebraska declined by 2% over the prior year to an average of $3,935 per acre, according to the 2025 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This marks the first decline in the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska since reaching the record non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the survey's 46-year history in 2024. 

Results are published by region and land type below.

2025 Preliminary Report PDF

2024 Final Report PDF Previous Years Reports 

Webinars

Updated land values and cash rental rates from the 2025 survey will be covered during two virtual landlord/tenant cash rent workshops on March 25 and 27. Register here.

2025 Survey Highlights

• The statewide all-land average value for the year ending February 1, 2025, averaged $3,935 per acre, or about a 2% decrease from the prior year’s value of $4,015 per acre.
• This marks the first decline in the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska since reaching the record non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the survey's 46-year history in 2024.
• Land industry professionals responding to the annual survey attributed the drop in Nebraska agricultural real estate values to current crop prices, interest rate levels, and farm input costs commonly used by operations across the state.
• Lower crop prices for commodities grown across the state have tightened the financial positions of many operations while interest rates have raised borrowing costs for loans used for leasing or real estate purchases. Farm input costs and current interest rates present elevated financial pressure and influence land or agricultural equipment investment decisions.
• The estimated market value of dryland cropland without irrigation potential decreased by 2% statewide compared to the prior year.
• Dryland cropland with irrigation potential declined 3% for the state.
• Center pivot irrigated cropland averaged 4% lower in 2025, with decreases in the North, Central, and East ranging from 4% to 7%. The Northeast, South, and Southeast fell between 3% and 4%, while the North and Southwest declined 2%.
• Modest losses also extended to gravity irrigated cropland, with an average decrease of 5% in 2025.
• The grazing land and hayland values increased from 1% to 5%. Nontillable grazing land led the three land classes at a 5% increase as market competition for additional acres followed rising prices. Cow-calf producers capitalized higher calf prices into these three land classes across the state.
• Dryland and irrigated cropland rental rates trended lower across Nebraska in 2025. Survey participants indicated that lower crop prices contributed to declining cropland rental rates.
• Rental rates for pasture and cow-calf pairs rose across Nebraska in 2025. Rising cash rental rates for grazing land are linked to increased cattle prices and shifts in national livestock inventories.