Top States: Cropland Value 

$ per acre

New Jersey 13,000

California 11,290 

Arizona 8,400 

Delaware 8,100 

Iowa 8,100 

Illinois 7,350 

Florida 6,750 

Indiana 6,700 

Maryland 6,530 

Pennsylvania 6,000

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 and rental rates paid by 

producers (cash rents) are from the 

2017 June Area Survey. The countylevel cash rents data are from the 2017 

Cash Rents Survey. 

Land value data are for the 48 

contiguous states. Cash rent data also 

include Hawaii.

Both the value of agricultural land and the rates producers pay to rent 

agricultural land (cash rents) remained largely unchanged in 2017 from the 

previous year at the national level, although individual states experienced 

increases or decreases. Agricultural land includes irrigated and non-irrigated 

cropland as well as pastureland.

Agricultural Land Values

The average value of U.S. cropland (irrigated and non-irrigated) was $4,090 

per acre in 2017, remaining unchanged from 2016, when it declined for the 

first time since 

2009. From 2003 to 

2017, cropland 

value increased 

246 percent. For U.S. 

pastureland, the 

average value in 2017 

was $1,350 per acre, 

a $20 increase over 

2016 and 2015 and a 

223 percent increase 

since 2003. (Fig. 1) 

At the state level, the 

value of cropland in 

2017 ranged from 

$1,020 per acre in 

Montana to $13,000 

per acre in New 

Jersey. (Fig. 2)

NASS Highlights November 2017 • No. 2017-7

U.S. cropland value 

unchanged in 2017

2017 AGRICULTURAL LAND

Land Values and Cash Rents

Fig. 1. Value of U.S. Cropland and Pasture, 2003–2017

($ per acre)

Cropland Pasture

$500

$1,500

$2,500

$3,500

$4,500

2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

$4,090

$1,350

Source: USDA NASS.

Fig. 2. Cropland Value by State, 2017

($ per acre)

>$8,000

$5,701−$8,000

$3,601−$5,700

$2,601−$3,600

<$2,601

Not published

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

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov
For pasture, the average value at the state level ranged 

from $360 per acre in New Mexico to $12,500 in New 

Jersey. In eleven states, the value of pasture did not 

change between 2016 and 2017; in the remaining states, 

the change in value ranged from an 8.8 percent decrease 

in Iowa to a 3.9 percent increase in South Dakota.

Farm Real Estate Value

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

buildings on farms – averaged $3,080 per acre in 2017, an 

increase of $70 per acre 

from 2016. At the state 

level, average value in 

2017 ranged from $530 

per acre in New Mexico 

to $13,800 in Rhode 

Island. The percent 

change ranged from a 

3.1 percent decrease 

in South Dakota to a 

10.1 percent increase in 

California.

Rent Paid for Agricultural Land

At $136 per acre, the average rate to rent cropland in the 

United States in 2017 was the same as in 2016. However, 

the average rate per 

acre for irrigated 

cropland was $212 

(up from $206 in 2016) 

and for non-irrigated 

cropland was $123 

(down from $125). 

For pastureland, the 

average rental rate per 

acre was $12.50 ($13 in 

2016). 

Among states, the 

rental cost per acre in 

2017 ranged from $31.50 in Montana to $325 in California 

for all cropland. (Fig. 3) But rates ranged from $72 in 

Oklahoma to $510 in California for irrigated cropland; 

from $15 in Wyoming to $231 in Iowa for non-irrigated 

cropland; and from $2.30 in Arizona to $54 in Iowa for 

pastureland. 

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

www.nass.usda.gov

Fig. 3. Rent Paid for Cropland by State, 2017

($ per acre)

>$200

$141−$200

$91−$140

$60−$90

<$60

Not published

Not surveyed

U.S. = $136

Source: USDA NASS.

At the county level, average rental rates for cropland 

in 2017 ranged from $4.70 per acre for non-irrigated 

cropland in Pecos County, Texas, to $2,610 per acre for 

irrigated cropland in Ventura County, California.

• The nine counties that had average rental rates 

higher than $1,000 per acre for irrigated cropland 

were all in California. 

• For non-irrigated cropland, six of the top ten 

counties with the highest average rental rates were 

in Illinois, where Logan County had the highest rate 

($289).

• The ten counties with the highest average rental 

rates for pasture were spread across five states. 

Snohomish County, Washington, had the highest 

rate ($128 per acre). Top States: Cropland Cash Rent

($ per acre)

California 325

Hawaii 282

Arizona 250

Iowa 231

Illinois 218

Washington 198

Indiana 195

Nebraska 194

Minnesota 166

Idaho 160

Top States: Farm Real Estate Value

($ per acre)

Rhode Island 13,800

New Jersey 12,800

Connecticut 11,200

Massachusetts 10,400

California 8,700

Delaware 8,400

Iowa 8,000

Illinois 7,300

Maryland 7,060

Indiana 7,000

Access the Data

Find land value data through the Quick Stats 2.0 database 

(http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov).

• In Program, select “Survey”

• In Sector, select “Economics”

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

• In Commodity, select “Ag Land”

• Select your data item, geographic level, and year

Find cash rents data through pre-defined Quick Stats queries:

State data: http://go.usa.gov/xkECH

County data: http://go.usa.gov/xkErk