Midwest Land Guy

05/02/2026

I have a client that has many oak savanna’s on their property. It’s one of the most peaceful places. Quiet breeze pushes thru the open canopy. Deer bed on the edges. The hot summer air is tempered under the thick leaf cover. Pretty serene. 😌

Also known as oak savannas, oak openings are open savanna communities that combine prairie elements with a robust oak cover, usually of the white, bur or chinquapin variety. Black oaks and shagbark hickory may be present, too.

Throughout history, these oak openings experienced frequent surface fires, which cleared the subcanopy and burned most taller shrubs, literally blazing a pathway for native wildflowers, along with grasses and sedges, to dominate the landscape between the established oaks.

This confluence of circumstances creates ideal conditions for a wide array of plants, animals, insects and birds, several of which require these specific conditions to survive or thrive.

As Wisconsin developed, many oak openings were turned into farm fields and small settlements. Furthermore, fire suppression became standard practice, extinguishing the very fires required to sustain these communities.

Today, oak openings are among the rarest plant communities in the Upper Midwest, with very few high-quality sites remaining. Of those that do remain, a vast majority are within (67%) or immediately adjacent to (77%) state natural areas.

Although they are not plants or animals, oak openings deserve a spot on this list, as their presence within SNAs allows for the combination of prescribed fires and careful management by DNR staff and volunteers that keeps these critical communities strong.

Learn more about Wisconsin's state natural areas and the remarkable species they help protect in the latest issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine: https://issuu.com/wisconsinnaturalresources/docs/wisconsin_natural_resources_magazine_spring_2026/s/154416529

Photo Credit: Thomas Meyer

03/22/2026

Proud to be a part of this great industry!

It’s National Agriculture Week! Agriculture is part of Wisconsin’s past, present, and future – the industry is rooted in our state’s culture. Wisconsin agriculture is a big economic driver contributing​ $116.3 billion annually to our state’s economy.

Did you know that the state is home to 58,521 farms on 13.8 million acres. The average farm size in Wisconsin is 236 acres.

03/22/2026

Don’t miss this opportunity to get your deer scored! Lots of prizes for all!

03/11/2026

Is it the right time to sell?
What is my land actually worth in today’s market?
Who are the serious buyers?
That is where experience and relationships matter.

03/08/2026

When Farmland Values Rise: What It Really Means for the Farm Balance Sheet

Over the past couple years farmland values across the Upper Midwest have continued to climb. In places like Goodhue County, Minnesota, those increases are showing up not just in land sale prices, but directly on farm balance sheets. When evaluating a farm operation, especially one generating significant revenue, rising land values can have meaningful financial implications that go well beyond the price per acre.

Take a simple example. If a 160-acre farm in Goodhue County was valued around $6,540 per acre in 2024 and increased to roughly $7,000 per acre in 2025, that represents about a 7% increase in land value. On 160 acres, that translates to approximately $73,600 in additional asset value in just one year. Nothing changed in the field. The soils are the same. The operator farmed the same ground. Yet the balance sheet strengthened simply because the market value of the land increased.

This increase shows up on the asset side of the farm balance sheet and directly improves owner equity. For lenders evaluating farm financials, that matters. Higher land values reduce leverage ratios such as debt-to-asset and increase the collateral base supporting existing loans. In practical terms, that stronger collateral position can expand borrowing capacity. Using common agricultural lending standards of roughly 60–65% loan-to-value, that $73,600 increase in land value could translate to about $48,000 in additional borrowing capacity tied to the same 160 acres.

Banks evaluating operating loans, machinery financing, and real estate debt look at both the income side of the operation and the collateral position behind it. When land values increase, lenders see a stronger equity position backing the operation. That can support larger operating lines, smoother refinancing, and improved terms on equipment purchases.

However, farmland appreciation strengthens the balance sheet without necessarily improving cash flow. The farm’s revenue still depends on yields, commodity prices, and input costs. A farm can appear significantly stronger on paper while still operating within tight margins depending on the year. This is why many long-established farm operations carry substantial land equity but remain cautious with leverage and expansion.

Farmland has always been a unique asset class. It produces annual income through crops or rent, while also serving as the primary collateral base for most agricultural businesses. When land values rise, they quietly reshape the financial structure of farm operations across the region.

For those of us working closely with farmland owners and operators, watching these balance sheet shifts is just as important as watching the markets or the weather. The soil may not change year to year, but the financial impact of that soil certainly does.

03/05/2026

Wisconsin’s maple syrup season is underway.

Across Central Wisconsin, most producers tapped trees over the weekend as a stretch of above-normal temperatures set the stage for sap movement. The classic freeze-thaw cycle is beginning to line up: daytime warmth pushing sap upward in the maple trees, followed by cooler nights that recharge the system. Many operations are now running vacuum pumps, efficiently pulling sap through tubing networks and moving it quickly toward the sugarhouse.

Production conditions remain variable across the region. Operations using vacuum tubing systems are seeing steady collection, while traditional bag setups have been slower due to lingering frost in the ground and snow cover insulating root zones. That frozen soil can delay sap flow early in the season, even when daytime temperatures rise above freezing.

As March progresses and soils begin to thaw more consistently, sap runs typically strengthen. For many Wisconsin producers, the next two weeks will determine whether the 2026 season shapes up as average or one of the stronger runs in recent memory. Early indicators suggest a solid start, with the potential for stronger flows once nighttime temperatures continue to dip below freezing.

For those driving the backroads of Central Wisconsin right now, the steam rising from sugarhouses tells the story — maple season has officially arrived.

01/31/2026

Owning Farmland vs Gold/Silver

When evaluating farmland strictly from a balance sheet perspective, the numbers tell a disciplined story. A 160-acre tract purchased at $10,000 per acre represents a $1.6 million acquisition. At $275 per acre in annual cash rent, that ground generates $44,000 per year in gross income. Over 20 years, that equates to $880,000 in collected rent before appreciation. Historically, quality Midwest row-crop ground has also appreciated over multi-decade horizons. Even at a conservative 3% annual appreciation rate, $10,000 per acre land grows to roughly $18,000 per acre in 20 years — placing the asset value near $2.9 million. That combines income generation with long-term capital growth, backed by a hard asset tied to food production.

Contrast that with gold and silver equities over the last 20 years. Physical gold has appreciated significantly during inflationary cycles, and silver has experienced strong volatility spikes, but neither provides recurring income unless structured through dividend-paying mining companies. The ride has included sharp drawdowns and sentiment-driven swings. Mining stocks in particular introduce operational risk, geopolitical exposure, and dilution risk. While metals can serve as a hedge during currency weakness or financial stress, they historically move in cycles rather than providing steady cash yield. An investor relying solely on capital appreciation in metals must time entry and exit effectively to outperform.

From a stability standpoint, productive farmland tends to behave differently than commodities or mining stocks. It generates annual income, provides inflation protection through rent adjustments, and historically maintains value through economic cycles because it produces a necessity — food and fiber. Metals can outperform during crisis-driven rallies, but farmland often wins in consistency and compounding when both income and appreciation are considered together. Over a 20-year horizon, the farmland example produces strong cumulative return with lower volatility and tangible collateral value — a balance sheet asset that works every season.

01/25/2026

Have you ever wondered if a family member or friend has ever tagged a record-book whitetail or black bear in Wisconsin?

As a Boone and Crockett measurer, this is something that I take a lot of pride in. Measurers help preserve the tradition, verify the history, and keep the standards rock-solid for future generations of hunters and wildlife managers.

Wisconsin has a long history of producing world-class deer and bears—and a big part of that legacy is documented through official record-keeping and certified scoring. That’s where the Boone and Crockett Club system comes in: the oldest big game scoring system still recognized today, and a cornerstone for wildlife documentation across North America.

Record books aren’t just about bragging rights. They’re about conservation, habitat quality, herd health, and long-term wildlife history. Every official entry represents years of good habitat management, strong genetics, responsible harvest, and hunters who care about doing it the right way.

If you’ve ever wanted to look up a name, confirm a score, or simply see what’s been documented across the state, https://www.boone-crockett.org/wisconsin-state-big-game-records !

Also worth noting—these records don’t happen without dedicated volunteers and certified measurers who ensure every measurement is done consistently and accurately. If you’ve got a trophy you’re proud of, consider getting it officially scored and documented. It supports the integrity of the record book and the conservation story behind it.

01/15/2026

Weather outlook for this spring into early summer looks to be possibly dry then wet as we get into the growing season.
1. Many are asking, how early is too early to plant your soybeans?
2. What does this look like for side dressing on corn?
3. Will the heat match the wet and setup for a better than average crop in lighter soil areas?
4. Will this impact the hay market for better or worse?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!