About the Surveys

The National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) conducts the June 

Area Survey to collect data on crop 

acreage, land use, grain stocks, farms, 

rents, and the value of land and 

sales. In the Cash Rents Survey, NASS 

collects data on rental rates producers 

pay for various kinds of agricultural 

land.

Access the Data 

Access land value and cash rents data 

through the Quick Stats 2.0 database 

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

• In Program, select “Survey” 

• In Sector, select “Economics”

For land value data:

• In Group, select “Farms & Land & 

Assets”

• In Commodity, select “Ag Land”

• Select your data item, geographic 

level, and year 

For cash rents data:

• In Group, select “Expenses”

• In Commodity, select “Rent”

• Select your data item, geographic 

level, and year 

To access cash rents county data, go 

to bit.ly/CashRentsCounties.

For more on current and historic land 

values, see bit.ly/AgLandValues.

2014 LAND VALUES AND CASH RENTS

Cropland and Pasture

The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated 2014 agricultural land 

values from data collected in the June Area Survey during the first two weeks 

of June, when NASS enumerators interviewed producers on approximately 

11,000 land segments in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. 

NASS estimated 2014 cash rents based on data collected during the 2014 

June Area Survey and the 2014 Cash Rents Survey, conducted in spring in 

all states except Alaska. The Cash Rents Survey collected data on rental rates 

producers pay for irrigated cropland, non-irrigated cropland, and pastureland. 

Agricultural Land Values

In 2014, the average value of U.S. cropland (including both irrigated and 

nonirrigated land) was $4,100 per acre, an increase of $290 per acre, or 8 

percent, since 2013. The increase is 134 percent since 2004, when the average 

value per acre was $1,750. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1. U.S. Cropland: Value and Rent Paid, 2004 - 2014

($ per acre)

Land Value Cash Rent

Rent

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

Land Value

$0 

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

$4,000

$4,500

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Source: USDA NASS.

NASS Highlights

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov

October 2014 • No. 2014-5
Fig. 2. Changes in Cropland Value, by State, 2013-2014

Decrease/Increase < 5%

Increase 5 – 10%

Increase > 10%

Data not published

Source: USDA NASS.

Note: The percent change for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont is a 

combined rate for these New England states to avoid disclosing data about individual operations.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

www.nass.usda.gov

At the state level, the value of cropland in 2014 ranged 

from $987 per acre in Montana to $10,140 per acre in 

California and $13,000 per acre in New Jersey. 

In much of the country, the change in cropland value 

(increase or decrease) between 2013 and 2014 was 

less than 5 percent. New York and the combined New 

England states had a slight decrease (less than 1 percent); 

other states in this category had either no change or an 

increase. In six states, cropland increased more than 10 

percent in value, including South Dakota, where the 

increase was 21 percent. (Fig. 2)

Pastureland also increased in value. The average value 

in 2014 was $1,300 per acre, an increase of 11 percent 

since 2013, when it was $1,200. The value of pastureland 

in 2014 ranged from $360 per acre in New Mexico to 

$13,500 in New Jersey.

Rent Paid for Agricultural Land

Nationally, producers paid an average of $141 per acre to 

rent cropland in 2014 (including both irrigated and nonirrigated land). This is a 3.7 percent increase since 2013, 

and nearly double the $76.50 rental rate paid per acre in 

2004. (Fig. 1) 

For irrigated cropland, producers paid an average of $208 

per acre, a 3 percent increase over the $202 per acre they 

paid in 2013. For pastureland, rental rates remained the 

same in 2014 as in 2013 – $12 per acre. 

Among states, the rental cost per acre in 2014 ranged 

from $32.50 in Montana to $313 in California for all 

cropland; from $64 in Oklahoma to $405 in California for 

irrigated cropland; from $14 in Wyoming to $260 in Iowa 

for non-irrigated cropland; and from $1.80 in Arizona to 

$50 in Iowa for pastureland.

At the county level, average rental rates for cropland 

in 2014 ranged from $5.50 per acre for non-irrigated 

cropland in Kimble County, Texas, to $2,350 per acre for 

irrigated cropland in Ventura County, California. 

• The twelve counties with the highest average rental 

rates for irrigated cropland were all in California. 

• For non-irrigated cropland, the ten counties with 

the highest average rental rates were in four states: 

Illinois (five counties), Iowa (three), Florida (one), and 

Nebraska (one). Miami-Dade County, Florida, had the 

highest rate, at an average of $385 per acre. 

• The ten counties with the highest average rental 

rates for pasture were spread across six states. Yamhill 

County, Oregon, had the highest rate ($88 per acre). 

Questions?

Contact Customer Service toll free at (800) 727-9540 or 

email nass@nass.usda.gov.