## Using USDA NASS Farmland Values for Farm Management Decision Making

### Description

The index for farmland values can be used to estimate land value for a past year, or estimate the value of land in the current year, depending upon available information. If the value of farmland is known in any year, the value can be estimated for any other year since 1950 using this tool.

### Example

The farmland value for a past year can be estimated using the following formula:
$$Farmland~V._{Past~Year} = Farmland~V._{Current~Year} * \frac{Index~V._{Past~Year}}{Index~V._{Current~Year}}$$ Example:
Current land values are $2,000 per acre in Kansas. What was the approximate value of this land in 1987? Using the results above, the index values for 1987 and 2015 are 59.39 and 326.43, respectively. $$Estimated~1987~Farmland~Value = 2,000 * \frac{59.39}{326.43}$$ The estimated value of the farmland in 1987 is$364 per acre

### Results

Index Value from Past Year

Index Value from Current Year

Using the results above, the index values for 1969 and 2015 are 25.80 and 326.43, respectively. $$Estimated~2014~Farmland~Value = 225 * \frac{326.43}{25.80}$$ The estimated value of the farmland in 1987 is $2,847 per acre ### Enter Values ### Results Index Value from Past Year Index Value from Current Year Estimated Current Farmland Value ($ per acre)

### Description and Disclaimer

The index for farmland values can be used to estimate land value for a past year specifically in the case of estimating value for step-up basis calculations. The scenario is that farmland was inherited in the past and the current owner is considering selling the land in the current year. The assumption is that the farmland was appraised in the current year, and the value change since inheriting the farmland is desired to be estimated.

Disclaimer
These estimates are based on nominal values and are not adjusted for inflation or purchasing power. Although estimates calculated here are useful for estimating the value of farmland at another point in time, the index provides only a single piece of information to include in any decision making process. Estimated farmland values do not substitute for land appraisals and may deviate from true market value for any number of reasons including land improvements, buildings and facilities, pressure from development and urban sprawl, mineral rights, and previous farm management practices.

### Example

Taxable value can be estimated using the following equations. To estimate the change in value since inheritance, the value of the land during the year of inheritance must be estimated. The ratio of the inheritance year index to current year index is multiplied by the current year appraisal.
$$Taxable~value = Farmland~value_{Current~Year} - Farmland~value_{Inheritance}$$ $$Farmland~value_{Inheritance} = Farmland~value_{Current~Year} * \frac{Index_{Inheritance~Year}}{Index_{Current~Year}}$$ Example:
Kansas farmland was inherited in 1969 with no appraisal at that time. In 2018, the land appraised at $2,500 per acre. What was the appreciated value since 1969? Kansas index values for 1969 and 2018, 25.80 and 294.59, respectively, can be plugged into the second equation. What was the approximate value of this land in 1969? $$Estimated~1969~Farmland~Value = 219 = 2,500 * \frac{25.80}{294.59}$$ The estimated value of the farmland in 1969 was$219 per acre.
Using the first equation, the taxable value is the difference in land value since 1969, so the $219 is subtracted from$2,500 for $2,281 per acre. The estimated change in farmland value since 1969 is$2,281 per acre; the value that tax liability will be based

### Results

Index Value from Past Year

Index Value from Current Year

Estimated Farmland Value at Inheritance ($per acre) Estimated Taxable Value ($ per acre)

### Description

The index for farmland values can be used to estimate land value for a past year, or estimate the value of land in the current year, depending upon available information. If the value of farmland is known in any year, the value can be estimated for any other year since 1950 using the farmland value index.

### Example

Current farmland values can be estimated using past values with the following formula:
$$Farmland~V._{Current~Year} = Farmland~V._{Past~Year} * \frac{Index~V._{Current~Year}}{Index~V._{Past~Year}}$$ Example:
My relative paid $225 per acre for land in 1969 in Kansas. What is the estimated value of this land in 2015? Using the results above, the index values for 1969 and 2015 are 25.80 and 326.43, respectively. $$Estimated~2014~Farmland~Value = 225 * \frac{326.43}{25.80}$$ The estimated value of the farmland in 1987 is$2,847 per acre

### Results

Index Value from Past Year

Index Value from Current Year

Estimated Current Farmland Value ($per acre) Taxable Value ($ per acre)

### Description

The map plots state-level farmland values for a given year. Select a year from the right hand side. Color schemes can be selectd from the dropdown list. To view or hide the map legend use the 'Show Legend' checkbox. Data source: USDA NASS