AgLetter: February 1996
Survey responses from about 400 agricultural bankers
show that farmland values in the Seventh Federal Reserve
District closed out 1995 by rising 2 percent during
the final quarter. For the year, District farmland values
were up 5 percent. This marked the ninth consecutive
annual gain in District farmland values, with the yearly
increases also averaging about 5 percent. The survey also
showed that interest rates on new farm operating and
real estate loans declined during the fourth quarter.
Gains in loan demand moderated while the availability of
funds for agriculture lending improved. Furthermore, it
appears that relatively strong grain prices have boosted
the pace of loan repayments, and will spur another increase
in spending by farmers on machinery and equipment
this year.