From Agrimoney:
The spring-time rally in crop prices has not been echoed in buoyancy in land prices, with Corn Belt values landing investors a fourth successive quarter of losses, even factoring in income such as rents.
Total returns on Corn Belt land – including both land price appreciation and rents – proved notably better in the April-to-June period than in the previous quarter, when they came in at a negative 3.3%, data from the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries showed.However, at a negative 0.03%, "on continued depreciation", they remained in the red for a fourth quarter, a period over which investors have seen a total negative return of 6.5%.The continued weakness came despite a rally during the April-to-June period in prices of corn and soybeans, which the Corn Belt is particularly noted for producing, amid concerns over weather setbacks.Prices down 6%And land prices have fallen further since the end of June, according to a separate survey by Creighton University of values in major Midwest agricultural states, including Corn Belt majors such as Illinois and Iowa.A farmland price index compiled by Creighton came in at 31.3 for July, down 1.0 points month on month, and well below the 50.0 level which indicates a neutral market."This is the 32nd straight month the index has languished below growth neutral 50.0," the university said.In terms of actual prices, bankers surveyed by Creighton believe US farmland values are now down by 6% over the past 12 months.Orchards vs corn fieldsHowever, the Creighton data did offer some sign of some improvement this month in market conditions outside major crop-growing states, with values in Wyoming, for instance, better known for livestock output, at least declining at a slower pace.And the Ncreif data showed land outside the Corn Belt offering positive total returns, particularly in areas with large areas of farmland put down to permanent crops, such as almonds, apples and stone fruits, rather than to annual crops, such as corn....MORE
