Farmland Markets Adjust as Growers Weigh China Demand and Tight Margins

ASFMRA’s Dennis Reyman discusses farmer sentiment, land values, and how global and financial pressures are shaping decision-making in the ag land market.

STORM LAKE, IOWA (RFD NEWS) — From global export developments to ongoing financial stress, farmers are weighing a number of factors as they make decisions this year, including how to navigate today’s farmland real estate market.

Dennis Reyman of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to share insight into how producers are responding to recent market signals.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Reyman discussed the reaction to reports of potential soybean sales to China, noting how renewed export optimism has been received by farmers in his region. He also addressed whether that improved soybean outlook could lead to any acreage shifts this spring, explaining how producers are balancing crop economics with longer-term planning considerations.

Financial stress across agriculture remains a key concern, and Reyman shared what he is seeing on the ground regarding land values this winter. While pressures are evident in some areas, he offered a perspective on how the land market is adjusting. He also weighed the current outlook against the 1980s farm crisis, outlining key differences in today’s financial environment and explaining why the current situation, while challenging, is not a direct parallel.

Related Stories
Meet agronomist and Soybean FarmHER Jenny Mennenga of LeRoy, Illinois. Jenny also grew up on a small farm in Iowa!

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Check out some of the livestream highlights from Elimination Match 2 of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY®, the first of four events in the second year of the Fishing Clash Team Series.
The trustees’ 2025 annual report, released June 18, cited a law enacted this year as the primary reason why the funds are projected to run out a year earlier than previously projected.
Check out some of the livestream highlights from Elimination Match 2 of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by 5-hour ENERGY®, the first of four events in the second year of the Fishing Clash Team Series.
Bass Pro anglers Ron Nelson and Martin Villa of Team O’Reilly Auto Parts secured the win in Elimination Match 2 of the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup, thanks to a dominant final frame on the lower St. Clair River.
Check out some of the livestream highlights from Challenge Elimination Round 1 on St. Claire Lake in Port Huron, Michigan. This is the first of four Cups in the Fishing Clash Team Series, which you can catch LIVE only on RFD-TV.