The decisions shaping Arkansas land ownership reach well beyond the next growing season or property transaction. Farm profitability, changing timber markets, recreational demand, and the transition between generations all influence how land is managed and what it may be worth in the years ahead.
Those connections guided the Lay of the Land® Conference on November 4, 2026, at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hosted by Saunders Land, the event brought together landowners, producers, investors, and industry professionals to examine the state’s land market and the businesses and families that depend on it.
Speakers offered a candid assessment of financial pressure across agriculture and forestry while identifying ways owners can strengthen their properties, prepare for changing conditions, and make informed decisions about the future. Recorded sessions are now available for streaming via The Yield podcast. Presentation slides for Dr. Hunter Biram’s agriculture and economic outlook session are available for download.
The Lay of the Land Conference is made possible by the support of our event sponsors, whose contributions help connect attendees with key insights into the Arkansas land market.
Navigating Trends in Arkansas Agriculture
Saunders Land Advisor Chance Creighton opened the agricultural panel by distinguishing the economics of operating a farm from those of owning farmland. Joining him were Jim Whitaker of Whitaker Farms, John L. Conner Jr. of Holden Conner, Michael Oleis of Land Fund Partners, and William “Ty” Davis, Arkansas State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Whitaker and Conner described an environment in which strong yields do not necessarily produce a profitable year. Land costs, equipment, fuel, and other inputs leave little room for error.
Oleis explained why institutional investors may maintain a longer investment horizon even when farm income is under pressure. He described how institutional ownership can provide liquidity for families while allowing experienced producers to keep farming the land.
Davis outlined the role of federal assistance and beginning-farmer lending, encouraging producers to stay in contact with their county FSA offices. Eligibility can change as programs and policies evolve, so a previous denial should not end the conversation.
Arkansas Forestry Outlook
The forestry fireside chat, moderated by Saunders Land Senior Advisor Greg L. Hay, ACF, CF, RF, brought together Dr. Matthew H. Pelkki of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business and Max Braswell of the Arkansas Forestry Association. Their discussion centered on a difficult imbalance between the state’s ability to grow timber and the available markets for that wood.
Pelkki described weak markets for small-diameter timber and pressure on lumber demand from housing conditions. Braswell traced part of the industry’s adjustment to long-term changes in paper consumption, including the shift from printed documents and checks to digital alternatives. The speakers also discussed international competition and changes in mill operations that affect demand for locally grown fiber. Consequently, landowners can struggle to thin dense stands, presenting greater exposure to insects, drought, and wildfire.
Pelkki identified potential demand from industries outside traditional forest products. He discussed wood-derived biocarbon for steel production, biochar applications in poultry production and nutrient management, and woody biomass for energy generation. Braswell added that policies supporting new wood uses and greater regulatory certainty would be important to market development.
The conversation also clarified why timberland can attract buyers even when stumpage prices are weak. Recreation, water features, scenery, and the desire to own a family property can support land values independently of near-term timber revenue. Maintaining forest health remains essential to preserving those benefits.
Lay of the Land® Market Update
Saunders Real Estate President Tyler Davis, ALC, joined Regional Managing Director David Hill, Chance Creighton, and Greg Hay to discuss how these operating conditions are translating into land transactions. Their observations pointed to a more selective market, with meaningful differences among regions and property types.
Download Our Latest Market Reports
In the Delta, Creighton described slower activity for some heavier-soil rice farms, while lighter-soil farms and strategically located properties continued to attract interest. In some cases, softening has appeared through longer marketing periods and more deliberate underwriting rather than a sharp reduction in sale prices.
Hill reported ongoing demand for quality recreational properties near Northwest Arkansas, alongside greater resistance to asking prices based on the stronger market of several years ago. Hay explained that access, internal trails, water features, and adjacency to an existing holding can influence what buyers will pay. The panel discussed practical improvements that help buyers understand and use a property, including maintained roads, accessible entry points, and visible wildlife habitat.
For development land, Hill identified sewer capacity and the cost of extending infrastructure as obstacles in Northwest Arkansas. Davis placed that discussion in a broader Southeast context, describing cautious near-term residential demand alongside interest in projects that could supply future development pipelines.
Succession Planning for Landowners
The succession planning session shifted the discussion from market conditions to the people who will eventually inherit or manage the land. Moderated by Tyler Davis, the panel featured Alan Grafton of Pinion and attorney Tyler Griffin of the Law Office of Tyler A. Griffin, PLLC.
Griffin explained that preserving an operating farm can require a different approach from transferring a passive land investment. A family may want to keep an agricultural business intact, provide income for heirs, allow an eventual sale, or accommodate children with different levels of involvement. Identifying those goals is the starting point for an effective plan.
“I don’t think there’s ever a time where it is too early to talk about succession planning,” Griffin said.
The speakers addressed estate tax planning, ownership structures, and the importance of understanding tax basis before transferring property. They encouraged owners to begin with an honest assessment of their goals and a current understanding of what they own. Plans should be revisited as property values, family circumstances, and business needs change. Grafton also emphasized informing heirs about the plan so assumptions do not take the place of clear expectations.
Keynote on Stewardship and Public Service
Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester delivered the keynote, connecting the state’s land resources with its history, economic development, and responsibilities to future generations. He reviewed his work on restrictions involving agricultural land ownership by certain foreign interests, framing the issue around national security. He also discussed efforts to improve business services, including reducing the time required to process LLC filings and making those transactions easier to complete.
Turning to the Commissioner of State Lands office, Jester outlined its work with tax-delinquent properties and natural-resource leasing on state lands. He identified lithium as an area requiring careful attention, particularly in balancing royalty revenue for Arkansas with the economic feasibility of resource development.
Arkansas Agriculture: Markets, Economics, and Outlook
Dr. Hunter Biram, an extension agricultural economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, closed the conference with a detailed look at the financial conditions behind many of the day’s discussions.
Biram examined the gap between crop revenue and rising production expenses, noting that stronger livestock markets offered a contrasting income picture. While federal payments help narrow financial gaps, cost pressures continue to drive farm debt, reduced repayment capacity, and consolidation. Crucially, cropland values continue to rise even as crop returns weaken, highlighting the divergence between asset values and farm operating margins.
Looking internationally, Biram identified Brazil as a lasting competitor in soybean and cotton markets. He discussed expanding production, lower costs, and infrastructure investment as factors influencing its position in global trade.
“Brazil is here to stay,” Biram said.
His outlook called for continued attention to input costs, trade conditions, and financing. Even with stronger crop prices, he cautioned that producers could face another difficult year if expense pressures persist.
The Value of Gathering
Throughout the conference, speakers returned to decisions that landowners can make today. Improving drainage can strengthen a farm’s productivity. Maintaining access and habitat can help a recreational property appeal to buyers. Planning early can give a family more options when ownership changes.
Saunders Land thanks the speakers, sponsors, and attendees who contributed to this year’s Lay of the Land® Conference. Their perspectives brought the realities of land ownership into focus and created a forum for conversations that extend beyond a single transaction or season.
Coming in 2027, the Lay of the Land® Conference will launch its inaugural national summit event, bringing together regional perspectives into a single event held every other year.
EXPLORE OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
Listen to this year’s recorded sessions on The Yield podcast, and click the link below to download Dr. Hunter Biram’s presentation slides.
ACCESS CONFERENCE RESOURCES
Explore our latest Lay of the Land® Market Reports for additional perspective on regional land trends, or connect with a Saunders Land advisor to discuss your property and long-term goals.