Alberta farmland · 2025 values
Alberta farmland values per acre in 2025, by region
Updated October 2, 2026 · By Deep Budhiraja, founder of AI Assessor and a REALTOR® in Edmonton
What is Alberta farmland worth per acre?
In 2025, typical cultivated farmland in Alberta was worth about CA$3,400 an acre in the Peace region, CA$5,200 in northern Alberta, CA$7,000 in central Alberta and CA$5,800 on southern dryland. Irrigated land in the south was about CA$20,000 an acre. These are FCC's reference values from the Farmland Values Report 2025 (March 2026). Values rose between 8.9% and 16.4% depending on the region.
| FCC region | Reference (cultivated) | 90% of values | 2025 change | Pasture reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peace region | CA$3,400/ac | CA$2,200 to 4,700 | +8.9% | CA$1,800/ac |
| Northern Alberta | CA$5,200/ac | CA$2,300 to 9,100 | +10.1% | CA$2,200/ac |
| Central Alberta | CA$7,000/ac | CA$2,500 to 13,200 | +9.6% | CA$3,700/ac |
| Southern Alberta, dryland | CA$5,800/ac | CA$2,400 to 9,400 | +16.4% | CA$4,100/ac |
| Southern Alberta, irrigated | CA$20,000/ac | CA$12,900 to 23,500 | +11.3% | n/a |
Why one quarter can sit far from the regional number
The regional reference describes typical cultivated land. The range around it is wide: in central Alberta, 90% of values fell between CA$2,500 and CA$13,200 an acre. Five things explain most of where a specific quarter lands:
- Soil class. The Canada Land Inventory rates capability from Class 1 (no significant limits) to Class 7. A Class 2 quarter and a Class 5 quarter in the same county are different products.
- Water. Irrigation water rights in a district change the value most. FCC's southern irrigated reference is about 3.4 times the southern dryland reference.
- Use. Cultivated acres, pasture, bush and yard site each carry different values. FCC's pasture references run well below cultivated land.
- Access and location. Distance to a provincial highway and to the next town affect trucking costs and buyer demand.
- Income and tenure. Surface lease payments, grazing leases and existing rental agreements add income that buyers price in.
Special Areas: FCC folds the Special Areas into its southern region, whose reference describes much better land. AI Assessor's September 2026 review of nine Special Areas listings (asking prices, not sales) put typical land near CA$2,300 an acre.
How to estimate a specific quarter
Start from the legal land description, for example NW-12-45-22-W4 (northwest quarter, section 12, township 45, range 22, west of the 4th meridian). AI Assessor reads it, fills in the county, the soil class and the highway access, then estimates a value range with the reasons and checks it against FCC's range for the region. In our September 2026 example, that quarter in Camrose County came out at CA$6,525 an acre (CA$1,044,068 for 160 acres), inside FCC's central Alberta range.
Questions
Is the FCC value what my quarter is worth?
No. FCC publishes a reference value for typical cultivated land in a region and the range covering 90% of values. A single parcel's value depends on its soil class, water rights, access, cultivated versus pasture acres and any lease income.
How often are these numbers updated?
FCC publishes its Farmland Values Report once a year, usually in March. We update this page and the estimate's regional check when the new report comes out.
What is CLI soil class?
The Canada Land Inventory rates agricultural capability from Class 1 to Class 7, with subclasses for the main limitation (for example climate, moisture or stoniness). AI Assessor looks it up for each quarter section in Alberta.
Is an AI Assessor estimate an appraisal?
No. It is an estimate with a confidence range and the reasons behind it. When a lender, court or regulation requires an appraisal, you need a designated appraiser.