Resources

Welcome to the Hiatt Land Management Resource Center. Whether you're a landowner, investor, or farm operator, staying informed is essential to making confident decisions. Below, you'll find curated tools, reports, and insights to help you stay ahead of land values, lease trends, and ag economics in Central Illinois and beyond.

2025 Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Mid-Year Survey

 

Farmland Prices 

  • Values declined 2–3.5% during the first half of 2025.
  • 61% of buyers were farmers; 67% of sellers were estates.
  • Outlook for late 2025: 49% expect small declines, 33% stable, 18% larger declines.
  • By 2027, expectations are mixed: 23% higher, 44% steady, 33% lower.

 

Cash Rents in 2026

Most farm managers expect 2026 rents to be lower than 2025 rents by between $15 and $20 per acre.

  • Rents expected to fall $15–$20 per acre in 2026.
  • Price expectations for 2025 crop: $3.95/bu corn, $9.95/bu soybeans.
  • 76% expect additional disaster payments for the 2025 crop.

 

Leasing Trends

  • Lease distribution in 2025:
    • 21% share rent
    • 14% modified share rent
    • 25% fixed cash rent
    • 34% variable cash rent (growing steadily)
    • 6% custom farming
  • Variable leases often use a base rent plus a revenue-based bonus.
  • 97% of managers are satisfied with variable cash leases, noting easier negotiations.

The average supplemental rent on a share rent lease is $31 per acre.

 

Wind and Solar

  • 53% reported new wind energy contracts in early 2025.
  • 26% reported new solar contracts.
  • 57% of farmland sales involved renewable energy agreements, often boosting land appeal.

 

2025 Illinois Land Values & Lease Trends Report

Published by: Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA)

We highly recommend reviewing the 2025 Land Values & Lease Trends Report, the most trusted source for current data on farmland values and rental rates across Illinois. This comprehensive annual report includes detailed information on:

Average farmland prices by region and quality class

Lease trends for cash rent, crop-share, and flex leases

Outlooks on farm income and commodity trends

Regional breakdowns, including East-Central Illinois

Download the 2025 Report

If you have questions about how this report impacts your farm or land investment, contact us for a personalized analysis.