FAQ

Where does AcreValue source its data, how often is it updated, and where is it available?

AcreValue has a database of over 40M agricultural parcels and 2.6M sale records dating back to 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 fifteen local, state, and federal government agencies, private entities, foundations, and universities. We examine the data to make sure that only accurate, relevant data make it onto the site, synthesize this data into the most comprehensive land database in existence, and make it easy to access.

Data is available in all U.S. states excluding Hawaii and Alaska. Within a particular state, availability and frequency with which the data is updated varies by data element and by county. See detailed information by data element below:

Parcels

Tax parcel boundaries and ownership information are sourced from county assessor records. The information we provide 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

Soil Survey

AcreValue provides soil information using the SSURGO database as our primary source. The SSURGO data are collected by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. One piece of this information is an assessment of the productive capacity of the soil. 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.

In addition to these four indices, we provide Land Capability Classifications for soils, which are designated on a scale of 1 to 8. Each soil is assigned to a class based on its suitability and limitations for cultivating field crops, its damage risk when field crops are cultivated, and its response to various management practices. The criteria for each class are defined as follows:

• 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 or that require special conservation practices, or both.
• Class 4 soils have very severe limitations that restrict the choice of plants or that require very careful management, or both.
• Class 5 soils are subject to little or no erosion but have other limitations, impractical to remove, 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

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 United States 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

Sales

Historical sale records 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 an issue of the originator of the data. 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 sale information once it gets recorded.

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

View sale data coverage by county

Is the data on AcreValue available for all geographies?

While we provide data in forty-eight U.S. states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), the type of data available for a given field varies. Estimated values are currently only available in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, and availability within each state varies by field. Estimated values will be available for more regions of the U.S. soon.

Do you display private landowner contact information?

AcreValue only displays publicly available landowner information.

How much does it cost to use AcreValue?

Many features of AcreValue are free to use. With a free plan, you can:

• View parcels and land sales with basic details in the map view.
• Generate three free reports per month to view detailed information about parcels and land sales. You can also print, download, or share these reports.

If you look at land on a regular basis and need more advanced search and evaluation tools, you can upgrade to Pro and choose from among our three paid subscription plans. Read more about our different plans, view pricing information, and sign up here.

How do I download a PDF version of my AcreValue report?

You can do this in one of two ways:

1. From the Report page, select the “Download” option in the upper right corner. A dialog box will open. From the dialog box, select which information you would like to include in the PDF, then click on the download icon. The PDF will begin to download. Note that it may take some time for the PDF to generate before you can download it, in which case you will need to select the “Download” button again once it’s ready.
2. From Your Reports page, in your report history, locate the report and select the “Download” option. The PDF will start generating and, when it’s ready, you can select “View PDF” to access the file.

The PDF will be emailed to you when it is ready.

I don’t see an estimated value for a certain field. Why?

We currently only provide estimated values for land in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Within those states, the availability of an estimated value will vary depending on the land use (we currently only provide estimates for fields with some tillable land) and general availability of data for that field. Contact us to let us know where you’d like to see estimated values.

My report is missing information for certain fields. Why?

Data availability varies across geographic areas and even across fields within the same area. Your report will always include all of the information available for the fields selected.

How do I print my report?

Select the print button from the report page. A dialog box will open. From the dialog box, select the information you would like to include in the printed version, then click on the print icon. At that point, a PDF version of the report will begin to open in a new tab in your browser, and you can print from there. Note that it may take some time for the PDF to generate before you can print it, in which case you will need to select the print button again once it’s ready.

View this brief video for a step-by-step guide:

Can I save my reports?

Every report you create on AcreValue is saved to Your Reports, which you can access from your account information. Only the original version of the report is saved to Your Reports. Shared versions are not saved to Your Reports.

How do I share my report with others?

The reports you create on AcreValue are initially only accessible to you. If you would like to share a report with others, you can choose to make it public and customize the information you’d like to include.

View this brief video for a step-by-step guide on how to share your report:

Can I try before I buy?

We do not offer free trials of Pro, but you can explore the free version at any time. You can also view this quick demo of Pro. If you’d like to schedule a more in-depth demo of any of our paid Pro plans, please contact us.

Is there a limit on the number of searches I can perform?

There is no limit; search as much as you’d like, as often as you’d like.

Can I change my subscription later?

Absolutely. You cannot substitute new states for states you’ve already purchased, but you can add more states and users or modify your plan at any time, and we will prorate the cost for the remainder of the term of your subscription. Please contact us to make changes to your subscription.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel your subscription at any time by emailing us at support@acrevalue.com with the subject line “Subscription Cancellation” and the body “I would like to cancel my AcreValue subscription.” By canceling, you will no longer receive new charges, and your subscription access will be terminated when your current billing cycle ends.

Is the AcreValue valuation estimate an appraisal?

It is an estimated market value. It is not an appraisal. It is simply one data point to determine the value of farmland. We encourage you to supplement your research with a market analysis or appraisal prepared by a real estate professional.

How does AcreValue come to its valuation estimates?

Our valuation model follows a comparable sales approach. We consider the attributes of a parcel of land — the soils, climate variables, and land cover history available in AcreValue reports, as well as many additional variables such as population density — and base our prediction on recent sales with similar attributes. The valuation model uses a machine learning algorithm to decide which attributes matter most and to determine which sales are comparable to a given plot of land.

Who calculates the AcreValue valuation estimate?

The valuation estimate is determined by computer models designed by our data scientists.

How often is the valuation estimate updated?

AcreValue estimates are updated periodically when new data become available and market conditions change. The frequency of updates may change based on the frequency with which the underlying data update.

The valuation estimate seems too high or too low — why?

When looking at the AcreValue estimate, keep in mind that this is a starting point for determining the land value and there is some information we are unable to take into account for all of the millions of fields in our system. Some things to consider beyond the information we provide include the following:

• Potential for commercial or residential development
• Mineral rights, natural gas storage, and other non-agricultural leases
• Recency of tiling and drainage and quality of work done
• Special arrangements including seed corn or test plot leases, organic certification, etc.
• Tillage regime practiced and degree of soil erosion
• History as a dumpsite or other damage to soil through contamination or other human activity
• Personal preferences (this land is close to my current farm)

Can I see estimated rental rates on AcreValue?

We currently only estimate the market value, but may offer rental estimates in the future.

What are Verified Comps?

A Verified Comp is a land sales record that was created or verified by an authorized AcreValue user. A standard Sales Record appears with a purple pin. Whereas, a Verified Comp is shown by a green pin and Verified Checkmark on the Sales Record.

How do Land Professionals use the Verified Comps feature?

Real estate professionals and appraisers use Verified Comps on AcreValue to build a trackable and digital Comp Sales Dashboard where they can search, edit, annotate land sales records so they can build fast and professional Comp Sale Reports for their clients and research.

Who is able to Verify a Comp?

Only Verified Users with an active real estate or appraisal license are permitted to interact with the Sold Land data and create Verified Comps.

How does a user get Verified on AcreValue?

1. The first step is navigating to your AcreValue account.
2. Once there, click the Blue and White gear symbol to edit your Profile Settings.
3. In the occupation field, select either Broker, Real Estate Agent, or Appraiser and click Save.
4. Now under your name on the account page, an orange link will appear saying “Verify Your Profile?”
5. Select the link, enter in your license information, and click “Submit”
6. The license information will be sent to the AcreValue Support Team who will confirm the license's authenticity and active status.
7. Once the license is confirmed, the user will become Verified, receive a Green Checkmark on their profile and be able to participate in Verified Comps.

What are the three ways to Verify Comps?

1. Verify or edit an existing Sales Record.
2. Create a Verified Comp from scratch.
3. Complete a Bulk Comp Sales Upload.

How do I verify an existing Sales Record?

When you have a standard Sales Record selected and the expanded detail card is open, click the button “Verify This Sale”. If you’re viewing Sales Records in the List View, select the Verify link at the end of the spreadsheet. This will take you to a screen where you can Verify, Edit, and Enrich the Comp Sale. Once finished, click the green Verify button to save the Verified Comp Sale to your Comp Sales Dashboard.

How do I create a Verified Comp from scratch?

The easiest way to create a Verified Comp from scratch is first by selecting the parcel in the Parcels layer. When the parcel of interest is selected, go to the bottom of the details card and click “Parcel Options”. Then select “Create Sale Comp From Parcel” to build your Verified Comp. The following data is required to save a Verified Comp: Parcel APN, acreage, Sale Price, Sale Date, Document Number or Book and Page Number from the county, and the Document Type.

How do I complete a Bulk Comp Sales Upload?

• All Parcel APN(s) or PIN(s) (generally, the APN is what we would like; both are fine as applicable) for all parcels of the sale
• Total Deeded Parcel Acres for all parcels of the sale
• Total Sale Price
• Sale Date (recorded date is fine, too but preferred actual sale date)
• Document Number/Book & Page (unique identifier of the sale in order to determine multi-parcel sales)
• Document Type (e.g. Warranty Deed, Executor's Deed)
• Sale Conditions (e.g. Not Advertised, InterFamily, Foreclosure, Auction ect.)
• Land Use Type (e.g. Agricultural, Residential, Commercial) - If customers are filtering by Agriculture, we would want them to verify when submitting data uploads

• Situs Address
• Buyer/Seller Names
• Assessment Information relative to sale year:
• Land Assessment
• Building Assessment
• Total Assessment
• Any other information available which is not otherwise listed.

How do I get started?

If you're interested in having your own Comp Sales Dashboard or doing a Bulk Comp Sales Upload, please send an email to sales@acrevalue.com.

What is the Farmer Mac Farmland Price Index powered by AcreValue (FPI)?

The FPI is a weighted average index that provides a broad measurement of the movement in farmland prices in the United States. This index combines national farmland transaction data with appraisal and sales data from Farmer Mac, the largest secondary market for agricultural mortgages. As such, the FPI provides a comprehensive view of national price trends in farmland prices.

When is the FPI updated?

The FPI is reported quarterly with each release date posted online. These release dates generally reflect a buffer period of several weeks after the quarter ends to allow for data collection and analysis.

How is the FPI calculated?

The FPI is calculated using raw farm sales data. Each sale is converted to a per acre basis and then weighted based on the value of agricultural production within the property state. This approach helps weight each farmland sale appropriately while also providing an accurate reflection of trends in farmland value across hundreds of different land markets nationally.

Are there ever revisions to previously reported FPI values?

There may be occasional revisions to historical FPI values. These revisions will likely be due to the incorporation of previously uncollected farmland transaction data.

Is the FPI adjusted for infaltion?

No. The FPI is reported in nominal terms and not adjusted for inflation.

Want to read more about the FPI?

Check out our Feature Insight about it here.