Agricultural Land Appraisers Near You in Northern California
If you're searching for an agricultural land appraiser near you, you already know this isn't a job for a general residential appraiser. Farmland, ranches, orchards, and vineyards carry value drivers — water rights, soil quality, irrigation infrastructure, crop history, zoning — that only a specialist understands.
At Brennan, Jewett, Hackett (Land MBA), we've spent over 40 years valuing agricultural property across Northern California. Our team doesn't just run comps from a desk: we've built a thorough, proprietary land database from decades of farm and ranch transactions, and we pair it with hands-on experience raising livestock, growing crops, and stewarding land across the region. When you hire us as your agricultural land appraiser, you get a valuation grounded in real local market knowledge — the kind lenders, attorneys, and tax authorities trust.
With offices in Woodland and Colusa, we're the local farm appraisers families, lenders, and attorneys across the Sacramento Valley call first.
Property Types We Appraise
Orchard Ground
Almonds, walnuts, and other tree crops, including age, variety, and production history
Field and Row Crop Land
Irrigated and dryland cropland
Range Land
Grazing and pasture ground
Vineyards
Wine grape acreage and improvements
Agricultural Processing Facilities
Hullers, dryers, packing and storage infrastructure
Natural Habitats
Conservation and mitigation ground
Ranches, Timberland, and Rural Estates
Working operations and recreational land
What an Agricultural Land Appraiser Does
An agricultural land appraiser determines the fair market value of farm and rural property — but the work goes far beyond a number on a page. We inspect the property in person, document its physical and productive characteristics, analyze comparable sales from our own transaction database and public records, and evaluate the income the land can realistically produce.
Because we're also active farmland brokers, our appraisals reflect what agricultural property actually sells for in today's Northern California market — not a theoretical model. That broker's perspective is baked into every valuation we deliver, and it's a big reason our reports stand up to scrutiny from lenders, courts, and the IRS.
When Do You Need a Farm Appraisal?
Buying or selling farmland
Know what the property is truly worth before you negotiate
Estate planning and settlement
Defensible valuations for heirs, trusts, and family transitions
Refinancing or ag lending
Valuations lenders accept for farm loans
Partnership buyouts and divorce
Impartial, third-party values both sides can trust
Property tax appeals
Challenge an assessment with credible market evidence
Conservation easements
Document before-and-after values for easement transactions
Our Agricultural Appraisal Process
Consultation
We discuss your goals, the property, and the purpose of the appraisal (sale, estate, lending, tax).
Property Inspection
We walk the ground: soils, water sources and irrigation, improvements, access, and current use.
Market Analysis
We analyze comparable sales — including transactions from our own 40-year land database — plus current market trends, rents, and production economics.
Valuation Report
You receive a clear, professional appraisal report that documents our findings, methodology, and final opinion of value — ready to present to lenders, attorneys, or tax authorities.
Why a Local Appraiser Beats an Automated Valuation
Online estimators and out-of-area appraisers miss what actually drives farmland value in the Sacramento Valley: which wells are reliable, how water district allocations are trending, what almond ground with 20-year-old trees is really trading for versus new plantings, and how a conservation easement changes the picture.
We're based here. Our offices are in Woodland and Colusa, our database is built from decades of local transactions, and our team has worked this ground personally. That's the difference between a guess and a valuation you can act on.
Agricultural Land Appraiser Serving Northern California
We proudly appraise agricultural property throughout:
Sacramento
Yolo
Colusa
Sutter
Yuba
Solano
Placer
Butte
Glenn
Tehama
Don't see your county? Reach out — our experience and resources often allow us to assist clients across a wide range of locations throughout California.
Agricultural Appraisal FAQs
Cost depends on the property's size, complexity, and the report type your lender or attorney requires. A straightforward valuation of a single parcel costs less than a large multi-parcel ranch or an estate appraisal. Contact us for a quote — we'll scope it before you commit to anything.
Most agricultural appraisals are completed within 2–3 weeks of the property inspection. Complex properties or assignments requiring extensive research can take longer — we'll give you a realistic timeline up front.
Our team brings over 40 years of combined experience in agricultural valuation, and our appraisal work is supported by one of the most thorough private farmland transaction databases in Northern California. Tell us your intended use — lending, estate, tax — and we'll confirm the right report format for your needs.
A broker price opinion (BPO) is an informal estimate from a real estate broker, useful for a quick sense of value. A formal appraisal is a documented, defensible valuation following professional standards — the kind lenders, courts, and tax authorities require. We can provide either, and we'll tell you honestly which one fits your situation.
Our primary service area covers the ten counties above, but we regularly assist clients in neighboring regions. Call us — if we can't take it on, we'll point you to someone who can.
Get a Valuation You Can Trust
Whether you're selling the family farm, settling an estate, or financing your next agricultural investment, an accurate appraisal is the foundation of a good decision.
Call (530) 723-5161 or visit our contact page.