Two identical quarters. Two different tenants. Ten years later, one is worth far more than the other.
The 10-year cost of a land-mining tenant: $1,150 to $2,100 per acre
On one quarter section (160 acres): $185,000 to $335,000
PER ACRE, OVER 10 YEARS
Land value in year 10
Good steward: ~$6,500
Land miner: ~$5,200 to $5,900
Buyer discount at sale (weeds, depleted soil)
Good steward: None, full market value
Land miner: –$650 to –$1,300
Lost production (yield drag up to ~15%)
Good steward: Stable or improving
Land miner: –$300 to –$400
Restoration (weed cleanup, rebuilding P & K)
Good steward: Minimal
Land miner: –$200 to –$400
Total economic impact
Good steward: Value protected
Land miner: –$1,150 to –$2,100
WHY THE GAP GROWS
Weeds are a liability. Resistant kochia, wild oats and thistle take years to clean up, and buyers price that in.
Fertility gets mined. Skipping P & K replacement borrows from the soil bank, and the next owner repays it.
Soil takes a decade to rebuild. Lost organic matter means weaker yields and less drought resilience.
Rent capacity drops. Degraded land earns less rent, which lowers its value to investors.
An extra $10–20/acre in rent never covers $1,000+/acre in lost value.
Protect your land:
– Fertility and weed-control clauses in the lease
– Baseline soil tests, repeated every 3–4 years
– Limits on straw removal
– The right to inspect, with remedies for non-performance
Ben Van Dyk
Farm & Land Real Estate Agent · Certified Agricultural Farm Advisor · Real Estate Centre
403.393.4040 · FarmInvestor.com
Illustrative estimate, not an appraisal. Assumes $4,000/acre dryland, 5% annual appreciation, and ~$450/acre gross revenue. Alberta farmland values rose 11.4% in 2025 (FCC)