Florida Farmland Values up 50%-88%

A new survey conducted by University of Florida shows that demand for land by developers, investors and speculators pushed the value of agricultural land to record levels--up 50 percent to 88 percent--in all regions of Florida. The annual survey measures changes over the past year and indicates that the average value of agricultural land ranges from about $2,700 per acre for unimproved pasture and farm woods in Northwest Florida to almost $10,000 per acre for orange groves in Central and South Florida. The UF Food and Resource Economics Department survey was compiled from information provided by 185 respondents from around the state. They included property appraisers, farm lenders, real estate brokers, farm managers, land investors, federal farm-assistance and conservation staff, UF county extension agents, and others who develop and maintain information about rural land values. More details on the survey, “Strong Nonagricultural Demand Keeps Agricultural Land Values Increasing,” are available on the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) Visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.