Western Ohio cropland values, cash rents see little change in 2026

Ohio cropland values and cash rental rates are expected to remain relatively steady in 2026 as tight farm margins temper the land market, according to the latest Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents study.

The annual study, conducted by Barry Ward, leader of production business management with Ohio State University Extension, found western Ohio cropland values are expected to change between a 0.1% decline and a 0.9% increase from 2025, depending on the region and quality of the land. Cash rents are expected to range from unchanged to a 1.5% increase.

Tight profit margins and worsening liquidity continue to weigh on cropland values and rental rates. At the same time, relatively strong farm equity positions and elevated property taxes are helping support values and rents. Crop prices, input costs, and yields will also help determine where farmland values and rents finish the year.

Ward conducted the 2025-26 survey from January through April 2026, gathering 132 responses from professionals and others familiar with Ohio farmland markets. Respondents included rural appraisers, agricultural lenders, professional farm managers, agribusiness professionals, OSU Extension educators, farmers, landowners, and government personnel.

The opinion-based survey is not scientific and relies on participants who voluntarily respond. Many respondents participate from year to year, while a portion of the survey pool changes annually.

Respondents were asked to estimate values for three land-quality categories: top, average, and bottom. For each category, they estimated typical corn and soybean yields based on a five-year period, along with current bare cropland values and cash rental rates. Results were compiled for western Ohio, with separate summaries for northwest and southwest Ohio.

Farmland values and cash rents can vary considerably across Ohio based on productivity and local market conditions. Western Ohio generally has different land values and rental rates than southern and eastern Ohio, with local supply and demand among the primary factors driving those differences.

Land productivity and potential crop returns also play significant roles. Soil quality, fertility, drainage, and irrigation capabilities can influence productivity as well as the consistency of crop returns.

Other considerations include field size and shape, accessibility, proximity to markets, local crop prices, wildlife damage potential, buildings and grain storage, previous tillage and cropping practices, herbicide-resistant weed populations, USDA program yields, population density, and competition for available farmland. Cash rental rates may also be influenced by services provided by the operator and specific terms of the lease.

The complete Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents 2025-26 report is available through the OSU Farm Office.