The average cash rent for an acre of Iowa cropland is $271, according to the annual survey conducted by Iowa State University. That is a 2.9% decline from the 2023 and 2024 average of $279 an acre. However, this year’s state average is $15, nearly 6%, higher than 2022’s previous high of $256 an acre.
West-central crop district 4 reports the highest average cash rent at $295 an acre, down $2 from last year’s high of $297. It is followed by district 3 in the northeast corner at $290, down $19 from 2024’s average. The northwest corner (district 1) is third with an average of $288, down from last year’s $304 district average.
The lowest average cash rent is reported by south-central crop district 8 at $215 an acre. That is down $16 from last year’s $231. The southeast corner’s crop district 9 is next lowest at $254, up $7 from last year’s $247. District 9 is the only district to record an increase from 2024. The southwest corner district 7 is third lowest with an average of $255, down $8 from last year.
Sioux County lists the highest county average cash rent at $339 an acre. It is followed by Monona at $333; Dubuque at $330; Ida and Linn at $323; Crawford at $316; Sac at $304; Tama at $302 and Delaware and Woodbury tied at $300 an acre.
Lucas County reports the lowest county average at $169 per acre. Next lowest is Wayne County at $177; Decatur County at $187 and Appanoose and Monroe Counties at $188.