Top 10 Highest Cash Rents by County

OMAHA (DTN) -- Once again, Illinois is the most expensive state in the Corn Belt to cash rent non-irrigated cropland, according to survey data released by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service on Aug. 23.

Because of a tie between Moultrie and Sangamon counties in Illinois, DTN has added a technical 11th highest county in the Corn Belt states, bringing Sioux County, Iowa, to the listing, which would otherwise be cleared by Illinois.

USDA's national survey, which includes data from about 250,000 farmers with $1,000 or more in agricultural sales, is conducted each year from mid-February until June. This year, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan and Indiana, listed a total of 853 counties, including an entry for "other counties" in several states.

In 2023, Illinois dominated the top nine out of 10 states with the highest cash rent among these states, slowly making its climb to the top from the year 2022, in which Illinois accounted for the top eight.

You can find the raw data, which includes more detailed information for irrigated cropland and pasture, here: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/….

TOP 10 HIGHEST AVERAGE CASH RENT BY COUNTY FOR CORN BELT

Illinois ranked the most expensive state to cash rent non-irrigated cropland in the Corn Belt, and it has also taken a majority of the listings for highest average cash rent per county. Except for a tie between Moultrie and Sangamon counties, Illinois clears the listing. Because of that nondifferential number, DTN has added an 11th county to the listing, which brings Sioux City, Iowa, as the only county outside of Illinois to make the listing.

Of the 853 counties listed in the survey, these are the most expensive counties in the Corn Belt for cash rented, non-irrigated cropland in 2024.

1. Piatt County, Illinois, $377 per acre.

Making its way to first place, Piatt County takes the highest cash rental average in the Corn Belt at $377 per acre, up $15 from the year before. In 2023, Piatt County had the highest cash rental average by counties, and in Illinois, at $362 per acre.

2. Sangamon County, Illinois, $369 per acre; Moultrie County, Illinois, $369 per acre.

Climbing from its seventh-place listing in 2023, Sangamon County, Illinois, has the second-highest cash rental average in 2024 at $369 per acre, up $42. In a tie with Moultrie County, Illinois, these counties had a $40 differential in 2023, with Moultrie only increasing $2 since last year.

3. Macon County, Illinois, $352 per acre.

Up $13 from 2023, Macon County, Illinois, remains third on the listing for highest cash rental average per county for 2024.

4. De Witt County, Illinois, $340 per acre.

Rising higher from its sixth-place position in 2023, De Witt County, Illinois, has an average cash rental value of $340, up $12 from last year.

5. Coles County, Illinois, $332 per acre.

With a $41 increase from 2023, Coles County, Illinois, which didn't even touch the rankings last year, ranks fifth on the list of highest cash rental average per acre for non-irrigated cropland.

6. Douglas County, Illinois, $330 per acre.

Moving up from its 10th place position in 2023, Douglas County, Illinois ranks sixth on the highest cash rental values in the Corn Belt, up $15 from 2023.

7. Edgar County, Illinois, $327 per acre.

With an increase of $45, Edgar takes seventh place for the highest cash rental values by counties among the Corn Belt states. In 2023, Edgar didn't touch the listing at $282 per acre. Since then, the $45 increase in cash rent value is the highest increase DTN has recorded in this listing.

8. Logan County, Illinois, $326 per acre.

Moving downward on the listing, Logan County, Illinois, takes eighth place with an $11 increase from 2023.

9. Christian County, Illinois, $324 per acre.

Ranking ninth place on this year's listing, Christian County, Illinois, averages $324 per acre for non-irrigated cropland, up from $307 in 2023. This small increase gave it its placing in the listing, whereas last year, it was not ranked in the Top 10.

10.Sioux City, Iowa, $323 per acre.

Thanks to a tie for second place in Illinois' Sangamon and Moultrie counties, Sioux City, Iowa, made the listing this year as the 10th highest cash rental by counties in the Corn Belt, up $34 from 2023. Sioux County also ranked the highest in Iowa's counties, up from $289 per acre in 2023.

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HIGHEST AVERAGE CASH RENT COUNTY BY CORN BELT STATE

Of the 853 counties listed in the survey, these are the most expensive counties in each Corn Belt state for non-irrigated cropland in 2024.

-- ILLINOIS: Piatt County, $377 per acre.

Piatt County has the highest cash rent by Corn Belt state, topping last year's Moultrie County, by $10. The cash rent value for Piatt County has increased $15 from its 2023 average.

-- INDIANA: Benton County, $299 per acre.

Up $1 from its 2023 average, Benton County, Indiana, reaches the highest cash rent average in Indiana at $299 per acre.

-- IOWA: Sioux County, $323 per acre.

Rising $34 from 2023, Sioux County lists a $323 per acre cash, the highest in Iowa.

-- KENTUCKY: Logan County, $244 per acre; Atchison County, Missouri, $244 per acre.

Up $6 from 2023, Logan County, Kentucky, has the highest cash rent average in the state.

-- MICHIGAN: Ionia County, $180 per acre.

Although seeing a $1 decrease from 2023, Ionia County, Michigan, has the highest cash rent average in the state.

-- MINNESOTA: Martin County, $287 per acre.

Martin County, Minnesota, has the highest cash rent average in Minnesota, up $7 from 2023.

-- MISSOURI: Atchison County, $244 per acre.

This cash rent ties with Atchison County, Missouri, at $244 per acre, an increase of $28 from 2023. Atchison County is the highest cash rent county in Missouri.

-- NEBRASKA: Dakota and Cuming counties, $280 per acre.

Although cash rent is lower by $6 in Dakota County, it ties with Cuming County for highest cash rent values in Nebraska, also listed at $280 per acre. Cash rents in Cuming have increased from last year, up $17.

-- OHIO: Hardin County, $240 per acre.

Hardin County, Ohio, has increased $29 from its 2023 cash rent average, now sitting at $240 per acre as the highest cash rent average in Ohio.

-- WISCONSIN: Lafayette County, $261 per acre.

Up from only $2 in 2023, Lafayette County is the highest cash rent value in Wisconsin at $261 per acre.

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To see the 2023 listings, visit: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Susan Payne can be reached at susan.payne@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @jpusan

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