U.S. farmland sector has strong return in fourth quarter

During fourth quarter 2012, U.S. farmland had a strong rate of return, exceeding its income return from fourth quarter 2011, according to the NCREIF Farmland Index, released by the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries.

Farmland recorded returns of 9.56 percent in fourth quarter 2012, compared with 3.58 percent in fourth quarter 2011 and 4.37 percent in fourth quarter 2010. Fourth quarter 2012's return marks the highest quarterly return for the farmland sector since 2006, when fourth quarter returns were at 11.55 percent.

Fourth quarter 2012 total returns were split between 5.27 percent appreciation and 4.29 percent income. Income and appreciation returns are routinely highest in the fourth quarter due to the harvest of many crops at this time of year. This causes higher income returns, and reappraisal of farmland properties results in higher appreciation returns.

"The 2012 year-to-date performance of the NCREIF Farmland Index provided an 18.58 percent total return, which continues to show the strength of agriculture as an investment for institutional investors,” says Christopher Jay, incoming chairman of the NCREIF Farmland Committee and director of financial analysis with Prudential Agriculture Investments. “The strength in demand for U.S. farm products, particularly in the export market, has helped fuel these returns."

Every region recorded a positive total return and appreciation during the fourth quarter 2012, making it the fourth time in five years this has occurred. Aside from first quarter 2012, this hasn’t happened since early 2009. The Corn Belt was the best performing region with a total return of 12.92 percent, while the Southern Plains recorded the lowest return at 2.12 percent.