Land is the hottest commodity on the farm

Rick Rohrich, a 26-year-old father of three, bought his first farmstead at a time when crop and pasture land was fetching record prices. He didn't think he had a choice.

Rural land prices are setting records and farmers, with a boost from high commodity prices, are in a buying mood.

''The prices keep jacking up and I don't see it slowing down,'' Rohrich said.

He closed on the 320-acre property last week, paying about $1,000 an acre for pasture land, a farmhouse and some outbuildings. The cost of the property was about double what it was worth less than five years ago, he said.

''Land prices are getting to where it will push us young guys out,'' he said.

Rohrich, who was born and raised in the central North Dakota town of Steele, said he's been farming nearly full-time since he was 16.