Sponsored Content

Ranchland Report: Texas Leads Recent Sales as Rising Land Values Fuel Property Tax Relief Push

Genevieve Collins from Americans for Prosperity discusses rising Texas property taxes, potential relief, and impacts on farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

Sponsored by
Granite_water_Ranch_pond_ranchland.jpg

Granite Water Ranch
Llano, Texas | Llano County | 817 Acres
Broker(s): Robb Van Pelt, Zurick Labrier
Call Agent: 1-806-680-3729

DALLAS, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Today’s farmland real estate market is broad-based, but it is not moving the same way in every region. According to proprietary data collected by the Land Broker Co-op, records of 2,662 sold properties across 42 states over the past six months have uncovered a few trends.

The South posted the most volume in the dataset, with 1,464 records and about $1.26 billion in listed value. The West had fewer transactions, but those deals represented far more land — about 2.26 million acres — and carried the highest regional median list price at $742,000.

The Midwest sat between those two profiles, showing 557 records, about $425.8 million in listed value, and a median list price of $350,000. The Northeast was the smallest segment in the sample, with 154 records, lower acreage totals, and a median list price of $127,450.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Land Broker Co-op data suggest that rural land demand is broad-based, but market behavior still varies significantly by region.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist

State-level activity was also spread widely. Texas led the field with 416 sold records, followed by Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Missouri. That mix suggests the active rural land market is stretching across the South, Plains, and Mountain West rather than clustering in one single region.

Bart Miller with Land Broker Co-op says the data should be viewed as a directional snapshot, not a full census. Even so, the pattern is clear: rural land sales are active nationwide, but acreage, price, and deal size still vary sharply by region.

LEARN MORE: www.landbrokercoop.com

———

Regional Spotlight: Texas Land Values Spark Tax-Relief Effort

Efforts are underway to bring property tax relief to rural Texas as rising land appraisals continue to drive up tax bills, raising concerns about whether farms and ranches can remain in family hands.

Texas State Director Genevieve Collins with Americans for Prosperity joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report with the latest on the proposed relief plan.

In her interview with RFD News, Collins discussed why property taxes are increasing for rural Texans and what is at stake for landowners facing higher valuations. She also addressed how rising land values are impacting tax burdens and whether voter approval may be required for certain changes.

Finally, Collins explained how the proposed relief plan could impact farmers, ranchers, and small-town homeowners, and whether the effort will be driven at the local level or require broader legislative action.

Related Stories
California almond acreage tightens while pistachios shift into an off-year, shaping a mixed outlook for prices and supply in the tree nut market.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities joins us to break down the latest USDA crop progress report, share insights from growers, and discuss how global factors are shaping planting decisions this season.
Growers are making progress with planting despite dry conditions.
Dry conditions are already showing up in pastures across the region this April.
When the stakes are high, proactive preparation and a firm command of the process are your most powerful tools for effective advocacy.
Higher cow numbers and slightly stronger output per cow pushed milk production above last year.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Beef is leading the decline as slaughter drops and supplies tighten.
Paul Neiffer joined us to explain how USDA’s base acre expansion will be calculated, outline key deadlines for farmers, and discuss how the changes tie into farm program decisions and the broader Farm Bill outlook.
Chad Fiechter joins us to discuss Purdue’s precision ag study, challenges in capturing value from technology, and what farmers should consider when investing in and adopting these tools.
Ethanol demand held together last week, but lower production and thinner stocks put more focus on export strength. Production capacity is also strengthening over time and benefiting soybean farmers.
Farm Bureau Economist Dr. Faith Parum discusses USDA’s efforts to expand fertilizer capacity, signals for farm profitability, and AFBF’s Farm Bill expectations.
Expanded export financing could provide greater support for ag sales abroad if buyers and lenders use the additional tools.