SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- Land sales firms say the cost of farmland in central Illinois increased by almost a third in 2011.
That continues the trend of increasing cropland values over the past few years.
The Journal Star newspaper in Peoria reports the average price of land in the 15 counties around Decatur rose from $8,000 an acre in 2010 to $10,500 last year.
Continued high prices for corn and soybeans and investor demand are driving the trend.
Some farm economists think the increase in land value will continue this year.
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