The Economics Department at South Dakota State University is conducting its annual farm real-estate market survey, which estimates agricultural land values and cash rental rates.

Survey results provide information to farmers and ranchers, landowners, ag professionals and policy makers interested in land markets trends, according to a newsletter from the Economics Department.

The survey is aimed at soliciting expert opinion about land values and cash rental rates for privately owned ag land used for crops, hay, tame pasture (seeded to introduced grasses) and rangeland (native grasses).

The department urges those who receive the survey to fill it out and return it.

The 2008 survey will help the Economics Department analyze how the current commodity process may be influencing land values, according to the newsletter.