CHICAGO
,
January 27, 2022
(press release)
–
NCREIF Farmland Index posted the Highest Total Returns in Over 5 years. The National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (“NCREIF”) released the fourth quarter and 2021 full year results for the NCREIF Farmland Index (“NFI”). The NFI ended 2021 with 1,260 properties and a new record market value of $13.8 billion. At the end of 2021, the total market value of the annual cropland sub-index was $8.38 billion accounting for 61% of the NFI’s total market value while the remaining $5.40 billion was in permanent cropland. In addition, 76% of the 1,260 properties in the index were in annual cropland and 24% in permanent cropland. The value of the index continues to be weighted to the Pacific West (40%) followed by the Delta States (19%) and the Corn Belt Region (11%). Total Farmland Returns In 2021, the NFI generated total returns of 7.83%, consisting of 3.95% income and 3.79% appreciation returns. Total returns were 375 basis points higher than the prior year and the highest total returns for the index since 2016. Strong annual returns were mostly driven by the improved performance in the annual cropland subindex which posted double digit returns of 11.06% compared to the permanent crop subindex at 3.06%. Rolling 4-Quarter Total Returns Annual Cropland Subindex The annual cropland category posted total annual returns of 11.06% exceeding the permanent cropland returns by 800 basis points. While income returns for this subindex were slightly higher in 2021 at 3.62% compared to the 3.39% in the prior calendar year, annual appreciation returns jumped to 7.25% - the highest level since 2013. Most regions experienced the strongest total returns over the past 5 years as higher commodity prices (i.e. corn and soybeans) pushed land valuations higher for many properties in this subindex. Rolling 4-Quarter Annual Cropland Returns Permanent Cropland Subindex The permanent cropland sub-index posted total annual returns of 3.06% in 2021 comprised of positive income returns of 4.43% but negative appreciation returns of -1.32%. While this total return is over two times higher than the total return generated in the prior year, permanent cropland continues to lag the double digit average annualized returns observed in the past 10 years (12.17%) and 20 years (14.42%). Rolling 4-Quarter Permanent Cropland Returns From a commodity standpoint, pistachio properties posted the highest total returns in 2021 at 9.39% as well as both the highest income (6.46%) and appreciation returns (2.78%) compared to other permanent crops. On the other hand, almonds generated negative returns (-4.44%) for the second consecutive year driven mainly by negative appreciation returns of -8.07%. Other permanent crops had positive total returns for the year including winegrapes (4.22%), apples (1.11%), citrus (0.61%) as outlined below. The NCREIF Farmland Index includes data provided by the following firms: Prudential Agricultural Investments, Hancock Agricultural Investments, Westchester Group Investment Management, UBS Farmland Investors LLC, Gladstone Land Corporation, US Agriculture, Cottonwood Ag Management, and Farmland Opportunity.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.
