AgLetter: November 1998
Farmland values weakened in the Seventh Federal
Reserve District during the third quarter, according to our
survey of 390 agricultural bankers. On average, farmland
values were down 1 percent during the quarter, the
first such decline experienced on a District-wide basis in
this decade. The weakness narrowed the gain for the
twelve-month period ending September 30 to 4 percent.
The survey also revealed that farmers backed away from
purchasing farmland to a larger degree than non-farm
investors. With respect to credit conditions, the survey
indicated that loan demand was up, on average, as gains
in Illinois and Iowa offset weakness in Indiana, Michigan,
and Wisconsin. Interest rates moved lower during the
third quarter, and loan repayment rates showed signs of
further deterioration.