Farmland cash rent prices fell 6.5 percent in the past year as farmers continue to adjust to lower corn and soybean prices, according to a new Iowa State University (ISU) Extension survey released last week.

The average statewide cash rental rate is $230 per acre, down from the peak of $270 per acre in 2013, according to the 2016 Cash Rental Rates for Iowa survey conducted by ISU Extension and Outreach.

"Cash rents are declining but not as fast as crop prices," said Alejandro Plastina, ISU Extension economist. "Prices have dropped for cash crops by between 50 and 60 percent in the last three years, and rent has gone down 15 percent. Profitability in cash-rented acres will still remain tight despite lower ...