Top States: Cropland Value 

$ per acre

New Jersey 13,700

California 12,830

Delaware 8,600

Arizona 7,600

Maryland 7,370

Illinois 7,300

Iowa 7,260

Florida 7,190

Pennsylvania 7,030

Ohio 6,400

About the Surveys

The National Agricultural Statistics 

Service conducts the annual June 

Area Survey to collect data on crop 

acreage, land use, grain stocks, farms, 

rents, and the value of land and sales. 

The national and state agricultural 

land values are from the 2019 June 

Area Survey. The rental rates (cash 

rents) paid by producers are from the 

2019 June Area Survey and the 2019 

Cash Rents Survey.

Land value data are for the 48 

contiguous states. Cash rent data 

are for the 48 contiguous states and 

Hawaii.

Both the value of cropland and the rates producers pay to rent cropland (cash 

rents) increased from 2018 to 2019 at the national level, while individual 

states experienced increases or decreases. For pastureland, both value and 

cash rent rates increased at the national level.

Agricultural Land Values

The average value of U.S. cropland (irrigated and non-irrigated) was $4,100 

per acre in 2019, increasing 1.2 percent from 2018. From 2005 to 2019, 

cropland value 

increased 99 

percent. For U.S. 

pastureland, the 

average value in 

2019 was $1,400 per 

acre, a $30 increase 

over 2018 and an 

89 percent increase 

since 2005. (Fig. 1)

At the state 

level, the value 

of cropland in 

2019 ranged from 

$1,040 per acre 

in Montana to 

$13,700 per acre in 

New Jersey. (Fig. 2)

NASS Highlights October 2019 • No. 2019-7

U.S. cropland value up 

slightly 

2019 AGRICULTURAL LAND

Land Values and Cash Rents

Fig. 1. Value of U.S. Cropland and Pasture, 2005–2019 ($ per acre)

Cropland Pasture

500

1,500

2,500

3,500

4,500

4,100

2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

1,400

Source: USDA NASS.

Fig. 2. Cropland Value by State, 2019 ($ per acre)

>8,000

5,701−8,000

3,601−5,700

2,601−3,600

<2,601

Not published

U.S. = 4,100

Source: USDA NASS. Data are for the 48 contiguous states.

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov
Among states, the rental cost per acre in 2019 ranged 

from $32.50 in Montana to $423 in California for all 

cropland. (Fig. 3) 

Fig. 3. Rent Paid for Cropland by State, 2019 ($ per acre)

>200

141−200

101-140

60-100

<60

Not published

Not surveyed

U.S. = 140

Source: USDA NASS.

For irrigated cropland, rates ranged from $78 in 

Oklahoma to $543 in California; for non-irrigated 

cropland, they ranged from $16 in Wyoming to $230 in 

Iowa; and for pastureland, from $2 in Arizona to $59 in 

Iowa.

For pasture, the average value at the state level ranged 

from $417 per acre in New Mexico to $13,400 in New 

Jersey. In Washington, the value of pasture did not 

change between 2018 and 2019; in the remaining states, 

the change in value ranged from a 2.9 percent decrease 

in Minnesota to a 7.7 percent increase in Nebraska.

Farm Real Estate Value

U.S. farm real estate value – the value of all land and 

buildings on farms – averaged $3,160 per acre in 2019, 

an increase of $60 per acre from 2018. At the state level, 

average value in 2019 ranged from $570 per acre in New 

Mexico to $15,600 

in Rhode Island. 

The percent change 

ranged from a 1.1 

percent decrease in 

Georgia and Iowa to a 

7.0 percent increase in 

California.

Rent Paid for Agricultural Land

At $140 per acre, the average rate to rent cropland in the 

United States in 2019 was $2 higher than in 2018. For 

irrigated cropland, the average rental rate per acre was 

$220 (up from $215 in 2018); for non-irrigated cropland 

it was $127 (up from 

$125). For pastureland, 

the average rate per 

acre at $13 is $0.50 

higher than in 2018.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

www.nass.usda.gov

Top States: Farm Real Estate Value

($ per acre)

Rhode Island 15,600

New Jersey 13,500

Connecticut 12,200

Massachusetts 11,100

California 10,000

Delaware 8,950

Maryland 8,060

Illinois 7,280

Iowa 7,190

Indiana 6,580

Access the Data

Find land value data through the Quick Stats 2.0 database

(quickstats.nass.usda.gov).

• In Program, select “Survey”

• In Sector, select “Economics”

• In Group, select “Farms & Land & Assets”

• In Commodity, select “Ag Land”

• In Category, select “Asset Value”

• Select your data item, geographic level, and year

Find national, state, and county cash rents data here:

www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Cash_

Rents_by_County/

Top States: Cropland Cash Rent

($ per acre)

California 423

Hawaii 271

Arizona 249

Iowa 230

Illinois 224

Washington 201

Indiana 194

Nebraska 191

Minnesota 164

Nevada 164

Five states have average 

farm real estate values of 

$10,000 per acre or higher.