More than 5,100 Illinois Acres Will Change Hands in Feb. 2025 Farmland Auctions

According to auction data compiled by the Successful Farming team, more than 5,100 acres of Illinois farmland are set to be auctioned in Feb. 2025. Listings range from single tracts of less than 30 acres to a couple multi-parcel sales totaling more than 500 acres. Here’s a closer look at the farmland expected to change hands across 23 Illinois counties.

Livingston/Ford/Iroquois Counties

Seven tracts spanning Livingston, Ford, and Iroquois counties totaling 663 acres will be sold in an online only auction on Feb. 28, 2025. All the tracts will be sold via buyers choice method. This means the high bidder can elect any of the tracts for their high bid. If the high bidder does not purchase all the offered tracts, the remaining tracts will continue to be offered buyers choice until all tracts are sold.

“It’s quite an impressive holding that the Gray family was able to put together over the years,” said Kevin Haas of Sullivan Auctioneers. “You can tell the owner operator put it together because they are extremely well cared for.”

Haas says the sale has generated a lot of interest, as you would expect. “This auction appeals to both local buyers and investors. It’s hard to outbid a local farmer that drives by these farms every day or owns neighboring property. But, of course, there will be interest from outside investors. This number of acres in close proximity will be appealing to them.”

Tracts range in size from 156.24 to 40 taxable acres. Productivity Index (PI) ratings range from 117.3 to 130.5 across the parcels.

Tract 4 includes a steel frame building and 5 grain bins.

Sullivan Auctioneers will handle the sale on behalf of owner P&P Gray Farms, Inc.

Edgar County

Six Edgar County tracts totaling 550 acres will be sold at public auction on Feb. 5, 2025. Online bidding will also be available. Buyers choice method will be used.

The listing touts, “These farms have been maintained extremely well with fertilizer applications yearly across all acreate and soil tested on a 2-year cycle. The 3-year yield history across all of the acreage is 240 bu/ac for corn and 72 bu/ac for soybeans.”

Tracts range in size from 64.13 to 117.25 surveyed acres. PI ratings range from 129.5 to 140.5 across the parcels.

Tract 5 contains a farmable terrace system with drainage tile.

Gershwin Farm & Land Realty will handle the sale on behalf of Koller, Magna, and Milkin Trusts.

Other Farmland Sales

At least an additional 30 farmland auctions are expected to be held across the state in February.

A majority of upcoming sales are online only auctions.

A handful of tracts with a small number of tillable acres are being marketed as income producing hunting properties.