The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics annually surveys land industry professionals across Nebraska, including appraisers, farm and ranch managers, agricultural bankers and related industry professionals. Results from the survey are divided by land class and summarized by the eight Agricultural Statistic Districts of Nebraska.
The market value of agricultural land in Nebraska declined by 1% over the prior year to an average of $3,905 per acre as of Feb. 1, according to the 2026 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey. This marks the second consecutive year that the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska has declined since reaching the record high non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in 2024.
Land industry professionals responding to the survey cited lower crop prices, elevated farm input costs and prevailing interest rates as the primary factors influencing agricultural land values.
Source: Cornhusker Economics, March 18, 2026.
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Reported cash rental rates for various types of Nebraska farmland and pasture: 2026 averages, percent change from 2025 and quality ranges by Agricultural Statistics District (a)
Dryland Cropland
Average Quality
• East District — $220/acre (-6% change)
• Southeast District — $185/acre (-3% change)
High Third Quality
• East District — $270/acre
• Southeast District — $225/acre
Low Third Quality
• East District — $185/acre
• Southeast District — $145/acre
Gravity Irrigated Cropland
Average Quality
• East District — $305/acre (-2% change)
• Southeast District — $270/acre (-4% change)
High Third Quality
• East District — $350/acre
• Southeast District — $320/acre
Low Third Quality
• East District — $255/acre
• Southeast District — $235/acre
Center Pivot Irrigated Cropland (b)
Average Quality
• East District — $335/acre (-3% change)
• Southeast District — $325/acre (-3% change)
High Third Quality
• East District — $390/acre
• Southeast District — $375/acre
Low Third Quality
• East District — $280/acre
• Southeast District — $265/acre
Pasture
Average Quality
• East District — $68/acre (4% change)
• Southeast District — $64/acre (2% change)
High Third Quality
• East District — $84/acre
• Southeast District — $77/acre
Low Third Quality
• East District — $51/acre
• Southeast District — $49/acre
Cow-Calf Pair Rates (c)
Average Quality
• East District — $69.20/pair (3% change)
• Southeast District — $66.75/pair (2% change)
High Third Quality
• East District — $80.65/pair
• Southeast District — $78.10/pair
Low Third Quality
• East District — $58.45/pair
• Southeast District — $53.35/pair
(a) Source: Reporters’ estimated cash rental rates (both averages and ranges) from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Developments Survey, 2025 and 2026.
(b) Cash rents on center pivot land assumes landowners own total irrigation system.
(c) A cow-calf pair is typically considered to be 1.25 to 1.30 animal units (animal unit being 1,000 lb. animal) for a five-month grazing season. However, this can vary depending on weight of cow and age of calf.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the Cornhusker Economics full article at https://cap.unl.edu/realestate. For questions regarding this survey, contact Agricultural Systems Economist Extension Educator Jim Jansen at 402‑261‑7572 or jjansen4@unl.edu.