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Navigating Farm Sales: Insights from Recent Auctions

Kevin Pifer America's Land Auctioneer - Pifer's Auction, Realty and Land Management

Agricultural land values across the Upper Midwest are showing remarkable resilience, with recent auction results highlighting the market's continued strength. From Burke County farmland bringing $3,400 per acre to an exceptional Emmons County property fetching $7,500 per acre, today's buyers are proving willing to pay premium prices for quality land.

The pattern is clear throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota – premium cropland continues to command top dollar while more marginal properties sell for predictably lower values. This growing price disparity reveals how sophisticated agricultural investors have become in evaluating productivity potential, soil quality, and long-term value. In Wells County, quality cropland sold for $3,100 per acre while nearby pasture land brought $1,250, perfectly illustrating this market dynamic.

Even more impressive has been the extraordinary machinery market we're witnessing this spring. Four-wheel drive tractors remain the stars of equipment auctions, with well-maintained units bringing stellar prices. A John Deere 9560R with 2,500 hours sold for $240,000 at our Bowman consignment sale, while a 2015 model 9620R with similar hours fetched $275,000 at a farm retirement auction.

The transportation segment has been particularly remarkable, with semi-trailers reaching unprecedented values. A 2012 Wilson grain trailer recently sold for $50,000, and even older cattle trailers from the late 1990s are bringing $30,000 to $50,000. This reflects both limited new inventory and the essential nature of these assets for agricultural operations.

Looking ahead, we highlight several exciting opportunities for buyers, including a 3,000-acre working ranch auction in Golden Valley County on May 8th and an extraordinary 840-acre property in Custer County with direct views of Mount Rushmore coming up in July. Whether you're a farmer expanding operations, an investor seeking agricultural assets, or someone dreaming of your own piece of the Black Hills, these upcoming sales offer rare opportunities to acquire exceptional properties.

Join us each week for the latest insights on land and equipment markets across the region, and visit Pifers.com to explore our complete inventory of upcoming auctions and past results.