Iowa average farmland cash rental rates reached a record $279 per acre this year, a 9% increase from a year ago, according to an annual Iowa State University (ISU) Extension survey. 

“This new peak rent is 3.3% higher than the previous one of $270 per acre observed in 2013,” said ISU Extension economist Alejandro Plastina. By comparison, nominal corn prices are just 2.8% higher and soybean prices are 4.4% lower than...