Overall Farm Land Values Dip in 2016 But Up In Southern Pine Belt

Agricultural land values decreased slightly in 2016 but rose in several Southern pine belt states, according to the annual survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“The United States farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $3,010 per acre for 2016, down $10 per acre (0.3 percent) from 2015 values,” the USDA reported.

That’s in contrast to an overall increase of 2.4 percent in 2015 and 1.1 percent in 2014.

Land values in F&W’s service areas, which comprise the Southern pine belt plus New York, rose 2.5 percent overall to $3,351/acre.  Within the F&W service region, West Gulf states (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) showed an increase of 1.7 percent, while the Southeast averaged an overall increase of 0.8 percent.  Land values in the Mid-Atlantic region (North Carolina and Virginia) and New York showed a decrease of 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.

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