Thanks all for the RE comments. I just became concerned when I recently talked to an RE agent in the Mobile AL region and learned that farmland was being increasingly priced at 'development' valuations, in some cases tripling the price. These properties were, however, near the coast and within commuting distance to Mobile. Looking for somewhere in a wide swath between Pascacula, MS and Norfolk VA:)
"Looking for somewhere in a wide swath between Pascacula, MS and Norfolk VA:)"
There are still affordable acreage tracts in some of the more rural counties within a decent (less than 30 miles) commute of the major cities in NC. For Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem metro, Rockingham County has quite a few on the market of more than 20 acres, some as low as $2,900.00 per acre, but more typically $7,500.00 to $10,000.00 per acre, which increases as you get closer to one of the cities. And, Caswell County is a real bargain, beautiful farmland and an unusual number of surviving antebellum plantation houses, but is less convenient other than to northeast Greensboro (if you're a car guy, the proximity to VIR might be a selling point). For the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro, Chatham County is still affordable, but developers are starting to push outward. Charlotte area is tougher, Maybe southern Montgomery County, but that's a stretch.
Also, Martinsville and Danville, VA are extremely affordable, with beautiful countryside, but access to a good airport is something of an issue; they come down here to Greensboro, and that's close to or over an hour away for them.
Good luck with your search.