California farmland values have taken a hit.
It is a price trend our friends at the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers have been warning of for quite a while.
A new groundwater law combined with poor commodity prices has led to double digit year-over-year farmland declines. While the San Joaquin Valley tends tohave greater water access than other parts of the state, farmland values there have still fallen.
Almond orchards that once sold for $60,000 an acre are now facing prices below just $44,000 an acre.
Meanwhile in Hawaii, the state is looking to purchase over 1,000 of farmland in Kaua’i that is currently owned by a billionare tech entrepreneur.
The $39 million deal is still waiting legislative approval. The state hopes to use the land to achieve local food production goals by allowing Hawaii’s Agribusiness Development Corps to satisfy the demand of farmers looking for access to more land.
Justin Wheeler with the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers joined us with insight into current farmland values and what to watch in the year ahead.
January 28, 2026 02:42 PM
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Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
January 23, 2026 07:00 AM
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The Farm Bureau is making an urgent call to Congress for more farm support. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company joined us to discuss farmland values and how market dynamics for the year ahead reflect stabilization rather than collapse.
January 21, 2026 12:30 PM
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Strong balance sheets still matter, but liquidity, planning, and lender relationships are critical as ag credit tightens, according to analysis from AgAmerica Lending.
January 19, 2026 03:00 PM
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In a landmark ruling delivered in late 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act.
January 19, 2026 11:25 AM
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CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
January 16, 2026 01:44 PM
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Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.
January 16, 2026 01:28 PM
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Wind repowering offers a rare opportunity to renegotiate outdated leases and improve long-term land income for landowners who act early.
January 16, 2026 06:00 AM
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Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
January 15, 2026 03:04 PM
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