Strong market for crops helps raise area real estate values

URBANA – Illinois farmland is more valuable than ever before, according to a University of Illinois Extension study released Monday.

The average value of farm real estate in Illinois rose from $4,330 an acre in 2007 to $5,000 in 2008, according to Dale Lattz, a UI Extension farm management specialist who prepared the report based on data from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

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• Choices for adding Champaign school seats narrowed to 2
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• Crystal Lake Pool closed early; future of facility in doubt
• Rantoul man accused of abusing teenager
• Judge moves Carle property-tax lawsuit to Champaign
• No big projects in $10 million budget for Georgetown schools
• Outage briefly knocks UI's computer network for loop
• Champaign teen arrested for armed robbery and carjacking
• Autopsy scheduled on man found dead in Urbana
• Villa Grove clerk, treasurer get pay raises
• Vermilion County moving forward with adding sheriff's deputies
• Jury convicts Robert Arnette of killing his estranged wife
• Obituaries