California Farmland Value Research
Understand agricultural real estate values and the differences between sales prices and survey averages
Research steps
- Define which land class is relevant in California: cultivated cropland, irrigated cropland, pasture, mixed-use land or farm real estate.
- Separate cropland, pasture, improvements, water access and nonfarm development pressure.
- Find USDA NASS statistics and record source, year, land type, survey scope, unit, and any missing or suppressed values.
- Review local deeds, verified comparable sales and county assessor information rather than applying a national average to one parcel.
- Inspect soil characteristics, water access, road easements, improvements and existing leases.
- Calculate annual property taxes, financing, operating costs, conservation obligations and insurance costs.
- For a purchase, lease, tax appeal or legal decision, seek qualified local professional advice.
Use comparable measurements
Do not treat a survey mean as an asking price or appraisal. Published California averages may represent different land classes and are not a substitute for verifying individual property characteristics, sale dates, lease obligations and local market evidence.
County research
Official land data and research sources
Use published USDA figures with their source year, geography, agricultural land class, and units. A published regional mean is not an individual property appraisal.