To be serious about the subject, most of what has been posted is correct, except for the post stating CRP payments are driving up cost (no offense intended). The land in northern Iowa is FAR more fertile, might actually have a chance to still make a living farming every once in a while. In southern Iowa much of the land is not at all fertile, other than some of the bottom land. Yields maybe 1/4 those of northern Iowa, but costs to plant/harvest still the same--go figure why that's generally the poorest part of the state. Lots of southern Iowa is gradually being converted to ranching, looking more like Nebraska every year.
Costs are being driven up by recreational users--timber/scenic is skyrocketing whereas prime ag land has been fairly static. On prime ag land, have to be able to make a return on your investment, and getting harder and harder to do that. Recreational users aren't driven by that reality--they're using "fun money", don't need to worry about rate of return. Just spending the money on land instead of new golf clubs and club membership every year. And although the timberland provides no return and is generally considered worthless by farmers/ranchers, even at $1000/acre it is considered a bargain to most rec users, who are generally "townies". Go look at a one-acre lot selling for $110,000 in the western suburbs of Des Moines, or an acre in the "rural" area just outside of Metro DM selling for $40,000 to $60,000 with no paved streets or sewer, and 80 acres for $60,000 to $80,000 doesn't sound too bad. And only an hour commute! Add a little CRP to put a few bucks in your pocket, and it can be about as close to heaven on earth that one can reach.
So. There you go. My wife and I both grew up in northern Iowa, so know what good farmland is like, shocking to see what it's like in southern Iowa, have to feel sorry for farmers trying to make a living there. There's a tendency to feel superior, but shouldn't--are hard-working people, failing because don't have as much to work with, not because of lack of effort or intelligence. I'm now a "townie" and rec user, and have helped drive up the cost of land in southern Iowa by buying our little piece of heaven. The CRP payment is a nice "perk", but could get a much better return elsewhere. Not the main motivator, although did make it easier to justify in the household budget to not have the monthly payments be a total drain.
Hate to see the acquisition of land, leasing of land, gradual disappearance of "free" hunting on private land. However, don't see any way to stop it or reverse the trend--fortunately, am in the position of being able to "join them since I can't beat them" (to reverse the saying). Leasing has been the only way to hunt in other states for decades. I can envision when even leasing will be hard, because most land will probably be in corporate ownership, and the corporations won't care about a few extra bucks from leasing.
I just wish I could have bought years ago, when timber was $100 or even $300/acre, but at least didn't have to pay $1000. That, and I regret not winning the lottery so I could buy a county or two.
Long enough post. Couldn't resist a little humor on the first...hope I didn't/haven't offended anyone.
