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A 41.7-acre tract in Lincoln County, South Dakota, sold for a reported $20,100 per acre at auction on August 29, 2025. The result applies to that specific parcel—not to South Dakota farmland generally—and the tract included both tillable land and acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
Where did South Dakota farmland sell for more than $20,000 an acre?
The sale was part of a Koerselman Family Trust auction in Lincoln County. Successful Farming reported that Tract 2, measuring 41.7 acres, sold for $20,100 per acre on August 29, 2025. Successful Farming’s report describes a single auction result; it does not establish a statewide average or record.
What was included in the 41.7-acre tract?
Successful Farming reported approximately 29.8 tillable acres and 10.8 acres enrolled in CRP through 2027. Those reported figures total about 40.6 acres, so they should be treated as the reported composition rather than a complete acreage breakdown. The source does not identify the use or characteristics of the remaining acreage. The full 41.7 acres should not be described as tillable.
How did the other tract in the auction compare?
A second tract at the same sale measured 63.44 acres and sold for a reported $10,000 per acre, according to the same Successful Farming account.
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| Reported sale | Size | Reported price per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Koerselman Family Trust Tract 2, Lincoln County, August 29, 2025 | 41.7 acres | $20,100 |
| Tract 1 at the same auction | 63.44 acres | $10,000 |
The difference shows that separate parcels offered at the same event can have substantially different reported per-acre outcomes. The sale report does not explain all the reasons for the gap, and it does not provide enough detail to isolate the effect of tract size, tillable acreage, CRP enrollment, soils, or other transaction terms.
How does the sale compare with South Dakota land-value statistics?
Statewide estimates and an individual auction price measure different things. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service figures published August 2, 2024 put South Dakota farm real estate value at $2,780 per acre, cropland value at $4,350 per acre, dryland cropland value at $4,330 per acre, and average dryland cropland rent at $131 per acre. These are historical statewide estimates, not an appraisal of the Lincoln County tract, and they predate its August 2025 auction. USDA NASS’s South Dakota report identifies the measures and reporting year.
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For more recent South Dakota market context, SDSU Extension says its 2026 Farm Real Estate Survey marked the 36th consecutive year of tracking agricultural land values and cash rental rates by land use and quality. The university cautions that the survey is a general reference, not a property-specific valuation tool: “The information presented here is intended as a general reference and should not be used to estimate land values or cash rental rates for any specific property.” SDSU Extension’s South Dakota Agricultural Land Market Trends page was updated June 17, 2026.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should buyers compare when evaluating farmland sales?
A reported per-acre sale price is useful, but it is not enough by itself to determine whether another property is comparable. Relevant details include:
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- Note: Please search for satellite signals in an open area outdoors and start measuring after the data stops fluctuating. Regular charging can better maintain the life cycle of the device.
- Location and sale date: county and local market conditions, as well as when the transaction occurred.
- Parcel size and land mix: total acres, tillable share, and any enrolled CRP acres or other uses.
- Productivity information: soil or productivity measures, when the sale documentation provides them.
- Sale method and terms: auction or private sale, lease and possession timing, and any stated fees, credits, or other conditions.
The cited report does not establish soil ratings or full transaction terms for the Koerselman tract, so those details cannot be assumed from another sale. For example, a separate McCook County auction held May 28, 2026, was reported at $12,655 per acre for 225.72 acres; its listing documented FSA-reported cropland, a soil productivity index, and transaction conditions. That different county, date, and parcel are not a direct price comparison with the Lincoln County tract. The McCook County auction listing illustrates the kinds of property and sale terms that can matter when assessing comparability.
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- !!!PLEASE NOTE: Please search satellite signals in an uncovered sky before using. When the signal value in the upper left corner of the device screen is below 1 m, start using to ensure the accuracy of the device. This device don't have map and cannot be used for navigation
- TIPS: The device needed to be held horizontal for taking measurements. Recommend to measure Area above 0.04 acres and distance above 328ft. The larger the measurement range, the smaller the error.The altitude data displayed on the device is GPS altitude, which fluctuates with changes in the satellite signals received. This is normal
- High Precision Measuring: Supports 6 satellite systems for fast, reliable signal, area measurement error in 0.002 acres, distance error in 5 ft,it cannot search satellite signals indoor
- 7 Measurement Modes: Measure area, distance, height and slope; save coordinates (save only, no edit). Two area measurement methods for gardens, parking lots, ranches and flat lands; two distance modes for paths, boundaries and irregular routes to measure straight and curved distances
- Sunlight-Readable 3.2" Color Screen: 240×320 high-resolution large display. Measurement results show directly on screen for easy viewing, clearly visible even under direct bright sunlight
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