Back Forty Field Notes

By Nathan Stout, Land & Farm Real Estate Specialist

As we enter 2026, Illinois landowners and buyers are navigating a market shaped by higher interest rates, resilient commodity performance, and historically tight land inventory. After the rapid appreciation of the early 2020s and the market recalibration that followed, many are asking a simple but important question: Where does farmland and recreational land go from here?

While no outlook is guaranteed, recent data and multi-year trends provide a solid foundation for understanding what 2026 may bring.

Farmland Values: Holding Firm, Especially for Quality Acres

Illinois farmland values reached historic highs between 2021 and 2023. Since then, price growth has moderated, but values have largely...

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