Webster County Iowa Farmland Market — 2025 Year in Review

Webster County, anchored by Fort Dodge and situated in the heart of Central Iowa's productive farmland belt, recorded 38 courthouse-verified farmland sales in 2025 averaging $12,423 per acre — essentially flat (-1.1%) from 2024's $12,558 average. That stability, following a -11.6% decline in 2024 from the 2023 peak of $14,208 per acre, suggests the county's market has found a new equilibrium. The 2025 data reflects a market where prime ground continues to command strong prices — 26 of 38 sales were prime-quality transactions — while the overall average is anchored by a diverse mix of quality tiers and parcel sizes.

Webster County's farmland market is distinguished by its exceptional productivity. The county's Des Moines River valley and surrounding uplands include some of Central Iowa's highest-CSR2 soils, and the 2025 data confirms that buyers are willing to pay significant premiums for the best ground. The top transaction of the year — a 68.2-acre Otho township parcel at $32,581 per acre — is among the highest $/acre sales recorded in the county's history and reflects the extraordinary premium that exceptional prime ground commands in a competitive market. The November Cooper township sale at $27,720 per acre for a 79-acre parcel confirmed that buyer appetite for quality acres remains strong.

Year-by-Year Price Summary

2025 Market Analysis

The 38 sales recorded in Webster County during 2025 are dominated by prime-quality ground, with 26 of 38 sales (68%) in the CSR2 75+ tier averaging $13,488 per acre. Good-quality ground (CSR2 55–74) averaged $12,380 across 8 sales — a relatively modest $1,108 premium over good ground compared to the spreads seen in some neighboring counties. Fair-ground parcels (CSR2 below 55) averaged $5,580 across 4 sales, reflecting the significant discount applied to the county's lower-productivity ground. The median of $12,426 per acre, nearly identical to the mean, confirms a well-distributed market without extreme outliers in either direction — despite the presence of two transactions above $27,000 per acre.

The Otho and Cooper townships produced the year's most extraordinary transactions. The September Otho sale at $32,581 per acre for a 68.2-acre CSR2 84.8 parcel — totaling $2,222,025 — set a new county benchmark and reflects the premium that buyers place on the Des Moines River valley's most productive ground. The November Cooper sale at $27,720 per acre for a 79-acre CSR2 82.8 parcel followed closely, confirming that multiple buyers are competing for the county's best acres. The Elkhorn township sale at $14,370 per acre represents a more typical prime-ground transaction in the county's interior.

CSR2 Tier Breakdown — 2025

Top Transactions — 2025

Township Analysis

Otho and Cooper townships led Webster County in 2025 $/acre, anchored by the two extraordinary transactions above $27,000 per acre. These townships sit along and near the Des Moines River valley, where the combination of deep, productive soils and reliable drainage creates some of Central Iowa's most coveted farmland. The Elkhorn township, with its strong 2025 transaction at $14,370 per acre, represents the county's productive upland ground. The county's western townships, closer to Fort Dodge, tend to produce a mix of agricultural and urban-fringe transactions that can influence the overall average.

Market Outlook

Webster County's farmland market is in a stable position heading into 2026. The -1.1% change in 2025 represents a soft landing after the 2023–2024 correction cycle, and the continued presence of extraordinary transactions above $25,000 per acre confirms that the market for the county's best ground remains highly competitive. The Otho and Cooper township areas should continue to attract strong buyer interest in 2026, while the county's broader prime-ground market appears well-supported in the $12,000–$15,000 per acre range. Sellers considering listing in 2026 should expect a buyer pool that is active and quality-focused.