Peoples Perspective

After reading yet another negative headline on the $20 trillion commercial real estate (CRE) market, I was reminded of the investment characteristic I once assumed the CRE market shared with the $4 trillion farmland market.

You don’t have to look far to find headlines highlighting the high entry costs of farming. For each of those headlines, another one can be found pointing to the issues of the aging American farmer and a “sidelined” next generation waiting for their opportunity to step in. A 65-year-old farmer has faced a lot of challenges in their lifetime from weather volatility and the 1980s farm crisis to the more recently rising cost of capital. There’s no question that they have earned their spot at the head of the operation.

Peoples Company, a full-service land transaction and management business, today announced the hires of Thiago Lima and Tommy Funk, continuing the company’s national expansion. Lima will oversee Peoples Company’s farm management in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and work alongside Peoples Company’s brokerage team. Funk will focus on Texas and Oklahoma, with an emphasis on land management and land acquisition.

It’s easy to fall into the mindset that our concerns regarding the lack of rainfall are past us once the crop is out of the ground. A drought naturally puts crop production at risk, but dry conditions post-harvest also have long-term impacts on farming operations.

When it comes to determining the value of your property, whether for buying, selling, refinancing, or other purposes, it's crucial to rely on the expertise of a qualified professional. Two common choices for property appraisal are certified appraisers and real estate agents or brokers. While both can provide valuable insights, there are key differences between the two.

The appraisal team at Peoples Company was able to track 255 tracts or 23,230 acres sold at public auction in Iowa during November 2023. The average dollar per acre was $12,018, the average dollar per tillable acre was $14,124, and the average dollar per CSR2 was $181.

As harvest across the Midwest is wrapping up, the seasonal auction sales are officially in full swing. In Iowa, our appraisal team was able to track over 7,800 acres sold in 89 tracts. The average dollar per acre was $13,043, average dollar per tillable acre was $14,423 with an average dollar per CSR2 point of $178. This is down 2% from the Q3 average. Illinois had a rally, too, with 1,830 acres selling in 24 tracts at an average dollar per acre of $15,281.

November is historically the busiest time of year for public auctions, and 2023 is no exception. The week of November 5, 61 tracts were auctioned in Iowa, 20 in Illinois, 15 in Minnesota, and 10 in Nebraska.

Louisiana is renowned for its rich culture, extensive agricultural opportunities, and diverse wildlife. Bountiful and diverse wildlife populations offer unique recreational hunting opportunities, which is the exact reason that Louisiana is referred to as the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” This article centers on Louisiana duck hunting, but waterfowl hunting is a very popular pastime across the country, particularly in the other Delta states of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

The South Dakota Blockchain Institute held its first symposium in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Most, if not all, reading this article have heard of blockchain and its association with Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies. To some, just mentioning blockchain can initiate great enthusiasm while others dismiss it with the wave of a hand.