Values

The USDA’s Economic Research Services is predicting farm profitability will fall by 32% on 2014, although farm wealth will stay at record levels.

As northern Australia recovers from years of hardship, there may be opportunities for investors.

The US-focused farmland investment firm says its returns outstrip NCREIF values, but expects them to remain near current levels.

The institutional fund manager raised $33.9m from the sale of forest properties in Georgia and Pennslyvania from Timbervest Partners I.

A survey conducted by the School of Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Western Australia revealed that Western Australian farmers are supportive of foreign investment as a means to bring capital into the region.

Falling oil prices will feed into food prices, according to Rabobank. This should push agri managers into niche agri products, argues Emma Cowan, an agribusiness consultant.

Timberland assets are approaching the return levels of property assets in the US, according to The National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries.

Insurance products are now available to help mitigate some timberland investment risks and create a more stable source of returns, argues Christian Röckemann, founding partner of First Forest.

A strong start to 2015 has bolstered an air of confidence among agri fund managers for the year ahead.