CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa’s cropland value has increased by nearly 24 percent in 2011 over the previous year.
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports the rise in cropland value in Iowa was the highest in the nation. Nationally, cropland values increased by a little over 9 percent.
Iowa State University economist Mike Duffy says the increased value isn’t surprising due to low interest rates and high prices for corn and soybeans.