Plain-English notes on where the farm-finance market stands, drawn from public USDA and Federal Reserve data. We track the numbers and point you to the original sources so you can dig deeper. This is general educational information — not financial advice, and not a rate we set or offer.
U.S. farm real estate averaged about $4,500 per acre in 2026, up 3.4% from the year before — the sixth consecutive annual increase, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Cropland averaged roughly $6,020 per acre — the first time the national cropland average topped $6,000 — and pastureland about $2,000 per acre.
Regional Federal Reserve data points the same way. The Kansas City Fed's Agricultural Credit Survey reported farmland values holding near record levels into early 2026, with nonirrigated cropland running a few percent above year-ago levels. Strong cattle prices and government payments have helped support land values even as parts of the crop sector face tighter margins.
USDA publishes its national Land Values summary each August, so these figures reflect the most recent full-year report. For the latest, see the USDA sources below.
Farm loan rates move with broader benchmarks — the Federal Reserve's policy rate and the cost of funds across the Farm Credit System and bond markets — plus each lender's margin and the risk profile of the specific loan. No single published number sets them.
Rates you see published or reported are often averages or starting points. Lenders price each loan on its own and typically add a margin, so the best number to plan with is the rate on a written quote from your lender. Your actual rate depends on your lender, the loan, and your financial profile.
These authoritative sources publish the underlying numbers and update them on their own schedules:
The figures above are drawn from public USDA and Federal Reserve reports as of the dates noted and are provided for general education. FarmLoans.ai is not a lender and does not set or quote interest rates. Markets change — confirm current figures with the original sources above, and confirm any loan terms directly with a lender.
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