25 years of farmland prices

Feb 24, 2023

In 1997, the average price for an acre of cultivated farmland in east-central Saskatchewan was $289. A decade later, in 2006, it was $297 per acre, or about $48,000 for a quarter section. Land prices in other parts of Saskatchewan were also flat during that 10-year period. Meanwhile, most landowners in Manitoba and Alberta saw modest gains.

In 2007, farmland prices spiked. In many regions, prices increased 300 to 500 percent from 2007-21. In east-central Saskatchewan, the average quarter section in 2021 was now worth more than $300,000. The historical record cannot predict the future, but it’s a reminder that there are boom and bust periods for farmland prices.

In Manitoba, farmland values in the eastern half of the province were around $5,000 per acre in 2021, a $2,000 per acre premium over the parkland and western Manitoba. That’s because yields are typically higher and there’s more heat units, making it possible to achieve 150 to 200 bushel corn crops.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.