LINCOLN- Farmland sales have historically been the most active after harvest and before planting season, generally October or November to April.

Chris Scow of United Farm and Ranch Management said he has seen a noticeable change in the past couple of years.

"We've kind of had an active sales market all through the year," said Scow.

The demand for farmland that's driving year-round sales also is pushing prices to heights not seen in Nebraska history.

According to final results from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report, overall farm prices in the state rose 16% this year to $3,360 an acre, an all-time record. Values were strongest in the northeast part of the state, up 21%, while the northern region had the smallest increase of 11%.

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City estimated Nebraska's fourth-quarter land prices were up 31% for non-irrigated cropland, 21% for irrigated land and 23% for ranchland compared with a year ago.

There are a number of reasons driving both demand and prices, including higher crop prices, political and economic instability, increased interest from investors and historically low interest rates.

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