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The future of farm size: Finding the right fit for investment and operations
Farmland has long been guided by the idea that "bigger is better". But landowners and operators may want to rethink the trade-offs of small vs. large tracts.
For years, the assumption in agriculture has been that bigger farms are better.
From an ownership standpoint, one large tract means fewer moving parts — one lease, one tenant, one insurance policy, one set of property taxes. This simplicity can make managing a farmland investment easier.
Farm operators like us at Weiland Farms often prefer larger tracts for similar reasons. Larger tracts allow us to make one decision for seed, one visit to apply fertilizer and give us one lease to manage. Additionally, equipment today is large and expensive, and part of making a living farming comes down to running that machinery over many acres as efficiently as possible.
But size comes with trade-offs.
Larger tracts require that buyers have significant capital, which means fewer people in the market when it's time to sell. Combine that with changing market dynamics, and the way we think about farmland management and investment is changing.
Why we're seeing more value in smaller tracts
Over the last five years, the average property size we farm has decreased.
Here's why:
1. Retail investors are changing the market
Many retail investors are looking for opportunities under $1 million. Smaller tracts fit that budget and make farmland more accessible to a broader range of buyers.
That's good news for landowners.
A larger pool of buyers means more interest and often better results when you're ready to sell.
2. Soil uniformity allows for precision and maximum efficiency
Smaller tracts often have more uniform soils.
Why does this matter?
With a smaller, consistent parcel, we can micromanage agronomically. We can ask, "What's the exact variety this small, sweet piece of land needs to find great success?"
And we tailor our approach to that answer.
Larger tracts tend to have more variability. You often have to plant a broad-spectrum variety that can handle all conditions but may not maximize yield in any one area. Smaller, uniform parcels let us push productivity further because we can make decisions specific to the land.
What farm size might look like in 25 years
Right now, the biggest advantage of large tracts is machine operation. But what if we fast forward 25 years?
Advances in automation could rewrite the playbook entirely.
Some people believe that automation will lead to fleets of smaller tractors and equipment working together in a "swarm."
Imagine mini-tractors planting in Texas in February, then moving north to Iowa in April — optimizing machinery use across geographies and planting schedules. This level of adaptability could make managing smaller tracts just as efficient as large ones — and even more valuable in the years ahead.
In other words, we don't want current tractor size to drive farm valuations.
When it comes down to it, farmland size isn't a question of "big or small?"
It's about what works best for your land and your goals. Our job is to maximize every acre's potential, whether it's one large property or several smaller tracts.
And, as farming continues to evolve, to think about how we can plan for a future where flexibility and sustainability drive our success.
Reid Weiland is the managing partner of Weiland Farms. He oversees the farm's day-to-day operations and leads all land management and farmland acquisition efforts.
