Commodities

Rural Bank’s latest agricultural outlook report finds that emissions will be a key focus for Australian farmers, while elevated freight costs will have a mixed impact on exports.

Talk of co-ordinated agricultural trade pressure on China by the US, Brazil and Australia as the PRC stockpiles major commodities is bad news for American farmers and investors.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is concerned that Olam Agri’s proposed takeover of Namoi Cotton could mean higher prices for cotton growers due to reduced competition among ginners.

Annual cropping continue to strongly outperform permanent farmland in the Australian Farmland Index, although returns were still only slightly in positive territory.

CEO Ejnar Knudsen says Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery is the third recent divestment of a Fund II business, reflecting an active stance among strategic investors.

US row crop revenue growth depends on the country’s ability to tap new export markets in a time of growing competition from the Black Sea and LatAm, while reducing a reliance on Chinese buyers.

A tighter market is likely to see more deals done based on economic fundamentals rather than hopes of capital gain, Rabobank says.

China’s devastating wine tariffs, changing consumer preferences and an oversupply of grapes is forcing recapitalization and compensation plans.

Munich RE Group asset manager MEAG has built up a €500m farmland portfolio for the insurer through a disciplined upstream approach.

The ANREV Australian Farmland Index recorded its lowest annualized return to date as returns fell below zero for the first time.