This is turning out to be one of the most bountiful years for rural America. This spring, farmers planted about 98 million acres of corn and are expecting to harvest a bumper crop this fall. On top of that, the value of their land is the highest it has ever been.

The United States Department of Agriculture says cropland values rose about 13 percent this year to $2,700 an acre. Appraisers think those values will continue to appreciate next year, although maybe not at this year's rate.

What is fueling farmland values? Ethanol for one. There are more than 100 ethanol plants in the U.S. and more are on the way. The demand for the grain-based fuel is driving up the price of corn. And, higher grain prices are helping to buoy farmland values.

The recent boom in the housing market is also playing a role. Many farmers who owned acreage bordering metropolitan areas sold it to developers. A lot of them are taking their profits and reinvesting in farmland elsewhere. Experts think that will continue into next year.

Steven Myers, Sr. V.P. of Busey Ag Resources, thinks farmland will retain its value for several more years. He says the farmers he sees have healthy balance sheets and are better positioned to buy more land. He is also seeing some outside investors adding farmland to their portfolios.

Does that make farmland a good investment for everyone? Not necessarily. Myers says investors should have a good understanding of agriculture economics and U.S farm programs before buying farmland.

Farm values can plummet. Anyone who remembers the farm crisis of the early 1980s knows that. But, experts think farmers are more debt-conscious today and are more savvy business people than they were two decades ago. And, that could preserve the value of America's heartland.