Friday, April 22, 2016

"America Warns That If the UK Quits Europe It Will Probably Invade" (and the opportunity in British farmland)

From the Daily Mash:

 jet425
THE US will probably invade Britain if it leaves the EU, according to senior White House sources.

Current and former US Treasury secretaries have confirmed that Brexit would be followed by drone warfare, airstrikes and a ground invasion to install a US-friendly regime. 
....“It’s nothing personal. It’s just what we do"....MORE
Which naturally enough leads to Agrimoney:

Brexit uncertainty offers opportunity for land investment
The uncertainty over Brexit and its impact on agriculture is having an effect on the UK farmland market, with English prices falling 3% in the first quarter of 2016.

It is the largest quarterly decline since the 5% slide in the final quarter of 2008 following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, says land agent Knight Frank.
 
Martin Robinson, head of the UK Agricultural Land Fund for Brooks Macdonald, says there are multiple issues affecting farming which are having an impact on land prices, but that it is an opportune time to consider investing.

"Brexit is having an impact, as it is in other sectors. But if you want an excuse not to invest, Brexit is a damn good excuse.

"For farmland it is particularly important, as there is concern about what would happen to support for farmers, and what it Brexit might do for commodity values."

Good time to invest

While the UK farmland market has been fairly quiet in the last few months, with one industry tracker pointing to a 24% reduction in parcels coming onto the market, there appears to have been an upsurge in the last few weeks.

Looking from an investor's point of view, Mr Robinson says it is a good time to invest in farmland.

"There will be farmers who need to sell," thanks to factors such as low commodity prices and delays in receiving payments under the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)....MORE