The Index of Indiana Farm Real Estate Values

August, 2002

Attached is a list of index numbers for Indiana farm real estate values. Numbers from 1912 through 1986 were taken from various USDA publications. Beginning in 1987, USDA discontinued publishing the index but continued publication of dollar estimates of farm real estate values and annual percentage changes. The index numbers from 1987 on are calculated from these published percentage figures and are not adjusted to reflect census-based revisions in dollar values published by USDA. For this reason, year-to-year percentage changes in the index may differ from those based on dollar values published by USDA.

Following are examples of two widely used applications of the index:

1. Estimate the 1947 value of land that sold in early 2001 for $2,400 per acre

2. Estimate the 2001 value of land purchased for $500 per acre in 1969.