Illinois Farmland Prices Still Rising

Bob Swires, president of Swires Land and Management, Danville, IL was covered on the front page of the March 24, 2010 issue of Farm World. Swires made news as he disclosed trends at the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers' 2010 Illinois Land Values Conference. In spite of evaporated demand for recreational tracts and 1031 exchanges, the farmland values in the Prairie State remain strong--exceeding $8,000 per acre in central Illinois--due mainly to local farmers expanding their operations. Swires uses the FBS Farm/Trust Manager software in his practice.