Fremont County Iowa Farmland Market — 2025 Year in Review & 2026 Early Outlook

Fremont County, tucked into Iowa's southwestern corner along the Missouri River, recorded 34 courthouse-verified farmland sales in 2025 averaging $9,164 per acre — a modest -2.9% decline from 2024's $9,437 average. That slight softening follows a strong 2023 peak of $10,414 per acre, and the 2025 data suggests the market is finding a stable floor in the $8,500–$9,500 range for typical quality ground. More encouragingly, the two sales recorded in early 2026 averaged $10,290 per acre — a +12.3% jump that, while based on limited data, signals renewed buyer confidence heading into the spring selling season.

Fremont County's farmland market is shaped by its unique geography. The county's Missouri River bottomland — some of the most productive ground in Southwest Iowa — commands significant premiums over the upland loess soils that make up the majority of the county's acreage. The 2025 price range of $5,095 to $18,933 per acre reflects this diversity, with the top transaction — a 37.5-acre Green township parcel at $18,933 per acre — likely reflecting bottomland or highly productive loess-soil ground. The median of $8,230 per acre, well below the mean of $9,164, confirms that the high-end transactions are pulling the average upward.

Year-by-Year Price Summary

2025 Market Analysis

The 34 sales recorded in Fremont County during 2025 show an interesting CSR2 tier pattern. Fair-ground parcels (CSR2 below 55) averaged $11,865 per acre across four sales — higher than both prime and good ground — which likely reflects the Missouri River bottomland premium for certain lower-CSR2 parcels that have high productivity despite their rating. Prime ground (CSR2 75+) averaged $10,419 across 10 sales, while good-quality ground (CSR2 55–74) averaged $7,997 across 20 sales. The Sidney, Prairie, and Green townships led the county in average $/acre, each averaging above $10,000 per acre for 2025.

The year's top transactions highlight the range of values in Fremont County. The December Green township sale at $18,933 per acre for a 37.5-acre parcel set the county's 2025 high-water mark, while the April Sidney township sale at $17,699 per acre for a 47-acre parcel confirmed that well-located quality ground commands strong prices. These transactions stand in contrast to the county's more typical sales in the $7,000–$9,000 range, underscoring the importance of location and parcel-specific characteristics in Fremont County valuation.

CSR2 Tier Breakdown — 2025

Top Transactions — 2025 & 2026 YTD

Township Analysis

Prairie, Sidney, and Green townships led Fremont County in average $/acre for 2025, each averaging above $10,000 per acre. These townships are concentrated in the county's central and eastern areas, where the land base includes a mix of productive loess-soil cropland and Missouri River-influenced ground. The Benton and Monroe township sales in early 2026 — both in the $9,500–$11,000 range — suggest that the county's interior townships are also seeing active buyer interest heading into the spring season.

Market Outlook

Fremont County's early 2026 data is encouraging. The two January sales averaging $10,290 per acre represent a meaningful uptick from the 2025 average and suggest that buyers are entering the new year with confidence. The county's Missouri River corridor continues to attract buyers who recognize the long-term value of productive bottomland and loess-soil ground, and the Southwest Iowa district's overall stability provides a supportive backdrop. Sellers with quality ground in the Prairie, Sidney, or Green township areas should expect competitive interest in 2026.