CHICAGO, Ill. (RFD NEWS) — Midwest farmland values improved in 2025, but rising credit stress signals tougher financial conditions ahead for producers.
The Chicago Federal Reserve reported that Seventh District farmland values rose six percent last year, reversing a small decline in 2024. Good-quality land increased by two percent in the fourth quarter. Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa posted single-digit annual gains, while Wisconsin also moved higher.
Credit conditions weakened. The share of farm loans with major or severe repayment problems climbed to 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter — the highest since 2020. Demand for operating loans increased for the ninth straight quarter, while funds available for lending declined for the eleventh consecutive quarter. Thirty percent of banks tightened farm credit standards compared to a year ago.
Interest rates edged lower late in the year, but bankers expect lower capital spending in 2026. Non-real estate loan volumes are projected to rise, while real estate lending is expected to soften.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong land values contrast with mounting credit pressure.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
The Arkansas Farm Bureau offers a ‘Beef in the Classroom’ grant to assist with ag education. Applications for that program open in August.
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