Some experts believe this year's rising farmland prices in central Illinois could continue for at least the next year.

Land sales companies say farmland prices in the region increased by more than 30% in 2011 to an average of more than $10,000 an acre. That mirrors a trend across the Midwest of rising land values based on high prices for crops such as corn and soybeans and interest among investors.

Dale Aupperle is president of Heartland Ag Group in Forsyth. He says crop prices should stay high over the next year and keep land prices up.

Roger Hayworth of Farmers National Co. says the high prices are convincing growing numbers of land owners to sell.