Where does AcreValue get its data?

AcreValue has a database of over 40 million agricultural parcels and 0.5 million sales records, dating back to January 1, 2014. We compile public data sources ranging from deed records of land transactions, classifications of crop rotations and soil properties, growing degree days, and precipitation from over 15 local, state, and federal government agencies, private entities, foundations, and universities. We examine the data to make sure that only accurate, relevant data makes it onto the site, we synthesize this data into the most comprehensive land database in existence, and we make it easy to access.

Data is available in all U.S. states except for Hawaii and Alaska. In a particular state, data availability and update frequency varies by data element and county. 

Parcels

Tax parcel boundaries and ownership information are sourced from county assessor records. The information AcreValue provides for each tax parcel includes the parcel boundary, Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), owner name, and the date that information was last updated. While new parcel records are published on AcreValue each quarter, the recency of the information varies by county.

View parcel data coverage by county.

CLUs

Common Land Unit boundaries (CLUs) are sourced from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and are effective as of 2008.

View CLU data coverage by county.

Sales

Historical sales records dating back to January 1, 2014 are sourced from county public records (county assessor and recorder). These records are joined with the other data available on AcreValue to provide the most complete information possible for each land sale.

Data completeness varies by county and is primarily a data-originator issue. Data could be missing because the county did not collect it. Data could be incorrect because errors were made during the key-in process.

While new sales records are published on AcreValue each quarter, the recency of the information varies by county and how quickly the county publishes sales information after it is recorded.

In some counties, transaction data is limited or unavailable because of non-disclosure laws. Where sale price is not disclosed, an estimated sale price is provided on AcreValue.

View sales data coverage by county.

AcreValue

While AcreValue provides data in 48 U.S. states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), estimated values are currently available only in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, and parts of California, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Availability in each state varies by field. Estimated values will be available for more regions of the U.S. soon.

View AcreValue data coverage in the U.S.

Crop History

AcreValue provides crop history using the NASS Cropland Data Layer (CDL). The CDL is a raster, geo-referenced, crop-specific land cover data layer created annually for the continental U.S. using moderate resolution satellite imagery and extensive agricultural ground truth.

Crop history information is updated annually on AcreValue across all U.S. states at the beginning of each calendar year.

View crop history data coverage by county.

Soil Survey

AcreValue provides soil information using the SSURGO database as the primary source. The SSURGO data is collected by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It includes an assessment of the soil's productive capacity. The sources of these productivity ratings vary by state.

• In Iowa, soil productivity ratings are measured by CSR2 (corn suitability rating), which ranges in value from 5 to 100.
• In Illinois, soil productivity ratings are determined by the optimal PI (productivity index) as outlined in Bulletin 811 and modified for slope and erosion.
• In Minnesota, soil productivity is measured by the CPI (crop productivity index), which ranges in value from 0 to 100 and supersedes the old crop equivalent ratings for that state.
• In all other states, soil productivity ratings are determined by the overall NCCPI (National Commodity Crop Productivity Index) developed by the NRCS.

Besides these indexes, AcreValue provides an additional measurement of expected soil productivity:  Soil Class. Soil Class is a score ranging from 1 to 8 where class 1 represents the highest productive capacity and class 8 represents the lowest. 

• Class 1 soils have slight limitations that restrict their use.
• Class 2 soils have moderate limitations that restrict the choice of plants or that require moderate conservation practices.
• Class 3 soils have severe limitations that restrict the choice of plants, that require special conservation practices, or both.
• Class 4 soils have very severe limitations that restrict the choice of plants, that require very careful management, or both.
• Class 5 soils are subject to little or no erosion, but have other impractical-to-remove limitations that restrict their use mainly to pasture, rangeland, forestland, or wildlife habitat.
• Class 6 soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for cultivation and that restrict their use mainly to pasture, rangeland, forestland, or wildlife habitat.
• Class 7 soils have very severe limitations that make them unsuitable for cultivation and that restrict their use mainly to grazing, forestland, or wildlife habitat.
• Class 8 soils and miscellaneous areas have limitations that preclude commercial plant production and that restrict their use to recreational purposes, wildlife habitat, watershed, or esthetic purposes.

Soil survey information is updated annually on AcreValue across all U.S. states at the beginning of each calendar year.

View soil data coverage by county.

Do you display private landowner contact information?  

AcreValue only displays publicly available landowner information.