Land auction methods: How selling farmland has changed

by Jim Jansen

The Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report 2025-26 provides insight into recent trends in the market value of land and cash rental across the state.

Each year, the special feature section covers new or emerging issues that reflect interest expressed by panel members and readership of the reports. This year’s special feature highlights changes in Nebraska farm real estate marketing methods over the past five years and implications for future agricultural real estate transactions.

Land auctions may use public, online or hybrid (online and public) methods for agricultural real estate sales. The decision to use one of these methods may be influenced by the property’s location, land attributes, potential bidders’ locations and other characteristics.

Advances in technology and changing marketing preferences have influenced how land auctions have been conducted across the state. The table below documents these recent changes in Nebraska land auction methods.

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Survey panel members reported an increased use of hybrid auctions (39%) and online auctions (27%) over the past five years. Other categories included remained unchanged (21%), decreased public auctions (8%) and delayed selling land (5%).

These findings suggest that the methods used to market and sell Nebraska agricultural real estate continue to evolve with technological advancements. The largest change in auction methods occurred in the use of hybrid auctions over the previous five years. These auctions combined live, in-person bidding with an online component as part of the public auction process.

Considerations for online or hybrid auctions

The decision to use online or hybrid auctions may increase the number of nonlocal bidders interested in a property. Online bidding provides additional opportunities for participants in live auctions without requiring travel or local representation.

Property characteristics, bidder location and marketing preferences may also influence the selection of an auction method. Advances in technology have also expanded opportunities to market agricultural real estate through multiple auction formats.

Understanding the factors influencing online or hybrid auctions — such as property location and characteristics — helps guide informed decisions when marketing land in Nebraska.

The major considerations for offering land through online or hybrid auctions reported by panel members, ranked in order, were:

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These findings indicate that both property characteristics and professional marketing guidance influence the selection of an auction method. Other considerations may vary depending on the property being offered for sale and the seller’s objectives.

Transaction methods for land sold in Nebraska

Agricultural real estate can be sold using several methods depending on the type of land, seller preferences and current market conditions. The figure above summarizes the methods reported by panel members for agricultural land sold in Nebraska. Ranked by use, these methods included:

These results indicate that hybrid auctions and traditional listings remained the primary approaches used to market agricultural real estate across the state.

The selection of a marketing method may vary according to the characteristics of the property, anticipated bidder interest and the objectives of the seller. Hybrid auctions combine in-person bidding with online participation, so buyers can participate without traveling or arranging local representation.

Traditional listings continue to provide an effective approach for marketing many agricultural properties. At the same time, public auctions, online auctions and sealed bids remain important alternatives, depending on the property and local market conditions.

Advances in technology have expanded opportunities to market agricultural real estate through multiple formats while increasing access for prospective buyers. Understanding the range of marketing methods used across Nebraska provides insight into current marketing practices, and may help landowners and real estate professionals evaluate alternatives when selling agricultural property.

Find the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights survey for 2025-26 on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website at cap.unl.edu/realestate.

Jansen is a Nebraska Extension agricultural economist.