September 2026 Minnesota Land Market Update
The southern Minnesota farmland market stayed strong through August, even with fewer buyers actively bidding at auction. The buyers who are participating remain motivated and that has kept values firm across most quality tiers.
What Buyers Are Focused On
Drainage continues to be one of the first things buyers evaluate. A known, quality tile outlet gives buyers confidence, while uncertainty around outlets can slow interest even on a farm with quality soils. Field configuration, access, and productivity round out the attributes buyers weigh most.
Southern Minnesota values are generally landing in these ranges:
- Top-quality farmland: $12,000 to $14,300 per deeded acre
- Mid-level farmland: $9,000 to $11,000 per deeded acre
- Farmland with drainage or configuration challenges: below $9,000 per deeded acre
Recent Sale Highlights
The Macklenberg Farm in Yellow Medicine County, MN is 212.02± acres offered in two parcels, with areas of wetness and a drainage system that needs improvements. There were fewer bidders at this auction, but the buyers who registered were serious, and the farm sold for $12,705 per tillable acre. A large, contiguous tract in one location draws investors with a long-term strategy, even when some of the work is still ahead of them.
The Johannsen Farm in Waseca County, MN sold for $13,657 per tillable acre. This farm included a building site with several small grain bins and storage buildings located in the center of the property. The field was also split by a ditch, but a known, quality tile outlet to an open ditch and high quality soils kept buyers motivated.
The D&D Partnership Farm in Le Center, MN sold as a transitional property for $17,170 per tillable acre. Its location within city limits drew interest from buyers looking for development potential rather than traditional farming use.
Hunting and Recreational Demand
Interest in hunting and recreational land remains high, while supply remains limited. Quality ground that is priced correctly is selling quickly. Land that is priced above market tends to sit, so an accurate evaluation matters as much for recreational properties as it does for tillable acres.
Outlook
Year to date in 2026, Wingert Land Services has closed 55 closed transactions totaling more than 6,107 acres, with cropland averaging approximately $11,358 per tillable acre. Investor interest continues to grow, particularly for large, contiguous tracts, and we expect that trend to carry into the fall season.
If you are considering a fall or post-harvest sale, we would be glad to visit with you about your property and the current market.