Results of the North Dakota Land Valuation Model for the 2011 Agricultural Real Estate Assessment

This report summarizes the 2011 results of the North Dakota Land Valuation Model. The model is used annually to estimate average land values by county, based on the value of production from cropland and non-cropland. The county land values developed from this procedure form the basis for the 2011 valuation of agricultural land for real estate tax assessment. The average value for all agricultural land in a county from this analysis is multiplied by the total acres of agricultural land on the county abstract to determine each county’s total agricultural land value for taxation purposes. The State Board of Equalization compares this value with the total value assessed to agricultural property in each county. Each county is required by state statute to assess a total value of agricultural property within 5 percent of this value. The average value per acre of all agricultural land in North Dakota increased by 5.4 percent from 2010 to 2011 based on the value of production. The value of cropland increased by 6.0 percent, and non-cropland value decreased by 0.40 percent. The formula capitalization rate was below the minimum set by the State Legislature, therefore the minimum rate of 7.4 percent was used. The increase in the values for cropland and all agricultural land was due to the increased value of crop production. The value of production for most counties has been considerably higher since 2007 than prior years. This increase in value of production is a combination of increased yields, higher prices and a change in cropping mix. The change in crop revenue impacted land values from a negative 0.52 percent in Pembina County to an increase of 13.12 percent in Hettinger County. The capitalization rate change increased land valuations by 4.05 percent in all counties; while the cost of production index decreased land values in all counties by 5.72 percent. Changes in market value are included for comparison. Market value data are from the annual County Rents and Values survey conducted by North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service