Agcapita Farmland Investment Partners - Saskatchewan Farmland Values Increase 21.7% in 2011

Calgary, Canada, April 19, 2012 --(PR.com)-- According to the recently released report on farmland values issued by Farmland Credit Canada, "In the second half of 2011, farmland values in Saskatchewan increased an average of 10.1%, the highest average increase across Canada. This followed gains of 11.6% and 2.7% in the previous two reporting periods, continuing the decade-long trend of price increases that began in 2002.

"In Saskatchewan, farmland values increased by an average of 1.8% per month in 2011. The results in Saskatchewan, which has 40% of Canada’s arable land, appear to mirror what’s occurring in the United States, where double-digit increases in farmland values have been reported in several corn and soybean states. The ongoing strength of commodity prices combined with a land market that had historically increased at a slower rate than in other areas of the country are two contributing factors to the current value increase.

"The rising values are also attributed to good seeding and harvest conditions in most areas of the province, coupled with low interest rates. Areas that had been flooded out or experienced minimal sales in 2010 saw resurgence in sales activity in the latter part of 2011. However, areas that experienced flooding in the spring of 2011 had limited sales in this reporting period."

Agcapita’s series of farmland funds continue to show great appeal to conservative investors concerned with inflation and the volatility of their existing public equity investments. Agcapita's analysis shows the risk of inflation increasing hence a continued interest in farmland investments. Farmland has similar inflation hedging qualities to gold but with an ongoing cash yield that gold lacks. Farmland returns exhibit low volatility and this combined with the high absolute returns from farmland equate to a favorable Sharpe ratio. Agcapita is one of Canada's most experienced farmland fund managers, launching its first fund in Q1 2008.

Agcapita’s funds directly hold diversified portfolios of farmland in western Canada, and in particular in the highly price competitive province of Saskatchewan. Investors are provided with the comfort of a direct investment in farmland combined with a model of front-end loaded cash rents. Agcapita is part of a family of alternative investment funds with a focus on generating commodity-linked returns and with over $100 million in assets under management. Agcapita believes farmland is a safe investment, that supply is shrinking and that unprecedented demand for "food, feed and fuel" will continue to move crop prices higher over the long-term. Agcapita is one of Canada's most experienced farmland fund managers, launching its first fund in Q1 2008.

This news release may contain certain information that is forward looking and, by its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "expect", "may", "should", "estimate", "project", "outlook", "forecast" or other similar words are used to identify such forward looking information. Those forward-looking statements herein made by Agcapita, if any, reflect Agcapita's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made (including, without limitation, that (i) the demand for agricultural commodities will continue to grow at a pace that is unlikely to be matched by growth in agricultural productivity, and (ii) investment demand for tangible assets such as agricultural commodities and farmland will continue to increase for the foreseeable future). Actual results or events may differ from those anticipated or predicted in these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks associated with the ownership and operation of farmland, including fluctuations in interest rates, rental rates and vacancy rates; general economic conditions; local real estate markets; supply and demand for farmland; competition for available farmland; weather; crop diseases; the price of grain and other agricultural commodities; changes in legislation and the regulatory environment; and international trade and global political conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information contained in this news release (if any), which is given as of the date it is expressed herein. Agcapita's undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact
Agcapita Farmland Fund
Stephen Johnston
+1 587 887 1541
www.farmlandinvestmentpartnership.com
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