‘Not So Perfect Storm': Sen. Grassley Voices Concern for Slipping Land Values in Iowa

Iowa land values dropped 3% year-over-year. Sen. Chuck Grassley said this discomforting pattern is a harbinger of crisis for farmers, as seen in the 1980s.

WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — Longtime Senate Ag Committee Member, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), warned other lawmakers that a bit of a crisis is brewing in Iowa, his home state, over land values.

Sen. Grassley said in a floor speech this week that land values are down 3 percent year-over-year in his home state, which he views as an uncomfortable pattern that he has seen play out before.

“In the 1980s, that didn’t happen overnight,” Sen. Grassley said. “It kind of crept up on us very slowly. We don’t want to let that happen again. So, we need to be vigilant today.”

Grassley went on to say that for too long, Congress has waited to act. He is calling on his colleagues to take action and help save family farms.

Related Stories
Roger McEowen explains the concept of “lawfare” — the use of legal systems to intimidate or financially exhaust an opponent — which grew into a central theme of U.S. ag law in 2025.
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.
Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition shares how extreme winter weather is affecting the ag transportation network and what producers should keep in mind as conditions slowly improve.
Strong White House backing supports ethanol demand, but timing now hinges on Congress resolving procedural — at the same time as they push toward a spending bill to avert another federal government shutdown.
Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, offers an in-depth look at two of the top legal issues of 202. Today, he walks through last year’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling and “lawfare.”
Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us with an update on the historic winter storm impacts and his outlook on today’s ag markets.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

While access to China remains uncertain, U.S. beef exporters are finding resilience and opportunity in other global markets, which could help maintain industry value and expand export opportunities.
American Farmland Trust shares guidance, research, and policy solutions to help farmers navigate the growing threat of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” contaminating U.S. farmland.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us on Rural Health Matters to discuss winter safety reminders and preparedness.
ASFMRA’s Dennis Reyman discusses farmer sentiment, land values, and how global and financial pressures are shaping decision-making in the ag land market.
Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.