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A 52.02-acre tract in Grant County sold at auction for $23,100 per acre on July 30, 2025, according to Successful Farming. That was a specific high-priced transaction, not a typical statewide price: UW–Madison Extension’s 2025 agricultural-land sales sample averaged $7,238 per acre.
What sold for $23,100 per acre?
The Grant County tract sold on July 30, 2025, and had a reported National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI) score of 84.7. Successful Farming reported that it was nearly 100% tillable and described productive Fayette-based soils, good access and an efficient layout. The article also said it was leased for the 2025 crop year, with full possession available in 2026; these are details reported about this transaction, not an independent property inspection.
The auction included a second tract of 33.65 acres, with an NCCPI score of 84.4, which sold for $20,900 per acre. Successful Farming linked the high bids to factors including soil productivity, access, layout, proximity to U.S. Highway 151 and Dubuque, Iowa, and competitive bidding. Those are reported context for the sale, not a formula for valuing other properties. Successful Farming’s sale report was published November 5, 2025.
How does the auction compare with Wisconsin averages?
The $23,100 auction price is far above several statewide figures, but those figures cover different samples and land-use categories. They should not be treated as interchangeable estimates of what any particular farm is worth.
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| Figure | What it describes |
|---|---|
| $23,100 per acre | Price reported for the 52.02-acre Grant County auction tract on July 30, 2025. It is one sale, not a statewide average. Successful Farming |
| $7,238 per acre | UW–Madison Extension’s average for its defined 2025 agricultural-land sales sample. The average was 9.6% higher than in 2024. UW–Madison Extension |
| $9,057 per acre | 2025 average for agricultural land without buildings or improvements that continued in agricultural use, in the Wisconsin NASS/DATCP summary. USDA NASS Wisconsin Field Office / Wisconsin DATCP |
| $44,692 per acre | 2025 average for agricultural land without buildings or improvements diverted to other uses in the same summary. This is not a direct comparison with land remaining in agricultural production. USDA NASS Wisconsin Field Office / Wisconsin DATCP |
Extension’s $7,238 figure comes from bare-land sales between non-related parties in Wisconsin townships. Its sample covers parcels from 35 to 2,000 acres whose predominant use was agriculture at the time of sale, with specified exclusions including certain waterfront, managed-forest, retained-rights and mining-note cases. Extension reported that 20.6% of sales exceeded $10,000 per acre and 10% exceeded $11,966 per acre.
The NASS/DATCP figures come from a different process and classify land by intended future use. The state transfer return records parcel size, sale price, present use and intended use; state appraisers inspect sites and verify returns. The summary excludes non-arm’s-length transactions and sales under abnormal conditions such as family sales or foreclosures. NASS also includes parcels under 35 acres and properties in cities and villages, unlike Extension’s township-based sample. The summary was released September 1, 2026, and was the newest sales summary listed on the NASS page as of October 8, 2026. See the Wisconsin NASS/DATCP summary.
Rank #2
Is $23,000 an acre typical for Wisconsin farmland?
No. The Grant County result is a high-end individual auction price, not a representative statewide benchmark. Extension’s 2025 report says, “High-priced sales make good headlines; however, such sales are often exceptions and do not reflect the market.” Its average was $7,238 per acre, and just 10% of sales in its sample were above $11,966 per acre.
Extension reported that agricultural land sales increased 11.2% in 2025 compared with 2024, while remaining below 2020 and 2021 levels. It points in part to limited supply: many owners continued to crop or rent their land rather than sell. These statewide trends provide context, but they do not establish the value of a particular parcel. The 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Land Prices report was published May 20, 2026.
What makes farmland prices differ from one property to another?
Nearby properties can sell at different prices because their productive potential and sale terms differ. Extension notes that soil, land quality, topography, drainage and proximity to urban centers can vary within the same township or county. Its buyer guidance also highlights yield potential, local demand, ease of access and farming, commodity and input prices, easements and other obligations attached to a sale.
For the Grant County auction, the transaction report described high-quality soils, a nearly all-tillable tract, access and location as relevant features. A buyer considering another property should verify those features rather than assume the same per-acre price applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should a buyer judge a fair price?
Start with comparable transactions, but match the comparison to the property and the purpose of the purchase. UW–Madison Extension cautions that “Relying solely on the average farmland price may lead to an inaccurate conclusion about the ‘fair’ price of a piece of farmland.” Its sale-values guidance recommends using reports as a guide and checking whether a purchase price works in the farm’s own financial plan. UW–Madison Extension buyer guidance.
Quick Recap
- Match the land-use category. Separate land expected to remain in agriculture from land intended for other uses.
- Compare like property with like property. Check whether figures concern bare land or improved property, and note parcel size and sale geography.
- Assess productive characteristics. Consider soil and yield potential, tillable share, topography, drainage, access and the ease of farming the parcel.
- Review obligations and timing. Check for easements, leases, possession dates and other sale terms that affect use or cash flow.
- Account for local demand and farm economics. Commodity and input prices, local competition and the buyer’s financial plan affect what a purchase can support.
- Use averages as context, not an appraisal. A statewide or county-level figure cannot establish a fair offer for an individual farm.
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