Crops

Cotton Australia condemns a ‘dangerous political stunt’ from a South Australia senator proposing a banning on cotton exports.

The firm plans double the size of Houweling’s Group’s 30-acre Utah greenhouse, as expansion capital becomes increasingly important for the indoor ag market.

Washington agronomist Stu Turner tells Agri Investor that a large apple crop in 2017 has helped financial investors play an increasingly active role in the state’s farmland market.

Head of natural resources Marc Drouin tells Agri Investor his unit would have been unlikely to take on such a complex agricultural investment three years ago.

AgIS founder and president Jeff Conrad told a conference audience last month that US pensions are increasingly viewing farmland as a permanent fixture of their asset mix.

Land Down Under achieved total annual returns of 12.75%, compared with 6.87% in the US, according to the Australian Farmland Index.

The Sydney-based manager is leaning on climate-change research to pick properties and is ‘confident’ returns will beat more passive strategies.

The deal represents PSP’s latest major investment in Australian agriculture and has received FIRB approval.

Regal will also help raise funds for the Kilter Water Fund, while two of its directors will join Kilter’s board.

A market source tells Agri Investor the creation of the diversified Mahi Pono joint venture reflects the C$159bn pension’s strategy to develop between 20 and 25 platforms across agricultural regions and sub-sectors.