Despite a year where al­most everything was dif­­ferent, farmland re­­mained a stable and familiar place for buyers looking to expand their farms or invest money, according to Iowa State University Extension economist Wendong Zhang.  

Iowa State University’s annual land value survey last week showed the average statewide value of an acre of land increased 1.7% to $7,559 during 2020 despite drastic demand shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, significant trade uncertainties and a destructive derecho that damaged crops across a large swath of the state.

“This shows surprising resilience despite the mounting un­­certainty,” said Zhang, who leads the annual survey. “The land market faced downward pressure initially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which lowered food demand and resulted in ...