“What will my farm bring?” That is one of the most difficult questions I hear from people who are trying to decide whether to offer their farmland at auction. Markets are constantly changing, and no two farms are exactly alike. That’s why I’ve enjoyed watching the annual competition among agricultural management students at Parkland College. [...]
News & Insights
Helping ag students learn to value farmland
December 10, 2014I had the privilege of speaking at length recently with Victoria G. Myers, Senior Editor of Progressive Farmer Magazine. Here’s an out-take based on my comments, which appeared in the November edition. (Used by permission.) Murray Wise, founder of Murray Wise Associates, based in Champaign, Ill., says there is still no better place for that [...]
Demand for Florida land growing due to nationwide trends
October 31, 2014BY BEN CROSBY President, Crosby & Associates Murray Wise and I have been marketing land together for 23 years, and if there’s anything we’ve learned in all that time, it is that demand for land can be affected by numerous factors that may not always be obvious. And right now, the Florida land market is [...]
Making sense of recent farmland values
August 11, 2014I’ve had a number of conversations recently with farmers, farmland investors, bankers and others who have been trying to interpret the recent surveys of farmland prices. And I’ll have to admit, we’ve all been doing some serious head scratching. The USDA’s Land Values 2014 Summary, released in early August, shows 2013-2014 cropland values in the [...]
A Very Special Evening
June 24, 2014As I mentioned recently, I hesitated to write anything more about my great honor in being named the 2014 recipient of the V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur Award. Truthfully, it seemed immodest to do so. But the event itself was so remarkable, reflecting the hard work of so many people, that gratitude compels one more post, [...]
It isn’t every day that your Congressman takes the podium to recognize your achievements on the floor of the House of Representatives. So it was one of the proudest moments of my life when U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis rose to say a few words about my receiving Parkland College’s V. Dale Cozad Entrepreneur of the Year.
All things equal: High quality land produces greater returns and holds its value better
May 20, 2014From the beginning of my career in agriculture, I’ve preached quality. Productive land with quality soils, good drainage and a good location will tend to be a sounder investment in all types of markets. It isn’t the only factor, to be sure. There are farmers and investors who have made good income and profits in [...]
Farmland price market adjusting to lower grain prices, but long-term outlook remains positive
March 10, 2014Every year, Illinois Public Media and WILLAg.org bring together some of the Midwest’s most influential landowners for an all-day Ag Outlook Meeting, and it was my pleasure to join them recently. Todd Gleason and the other good folks at WILLAg.org did a great job on the event and were kind enough to get a video [...]
My favorite kind of market – one that discriminates!
February 10, 2014Weak commodity prices. Concerns about falling farm income. Unsettled world grain markets. Uncertainty all around. It’s my favorite kind of market. The kind where the marketplace presents challenges and those of us who market farmland have to earn our keep. When a job is easy, people get the idea that anybody can do it. And [...]
As I write this, China has just rejected two cargoes of DDGs from the United States after detecting MIR 162 – a GMO species not yet approved for import into China. According to various reports, the world’s largest corn importer has turned away 665,000 metric tons of corn since November because of the issue. To [...]