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In a recent Iowa State University study of farmland ownership, economist Mike Duffy lists several key trends:
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Advancing age of owners. In 2007, more than half the farmland (55%) in Iowa was owned by people over the age of 65, with 28% owned by folks over 75. In 1982 these same age categories had a combined ownership of just 29%.
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Increasing amount of land that is cash-rented. Farmland that was leased was equally divided between cash rent and crop share leases in 1982. By 2007, 77% of the leased farmland was under a cash arrangement.
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Increase in out-of-state ownership. In 1982, only 6% of Iowa land was owned by those who weren't full-time residents. By 2007, this figure had risen to 21%.
