Dairy

The median price per hectare of Australian farmland increased by 27% in 2021, with a double-digit rise expected again in 2022 before a slowdown.

New Zealand Rural Land Co, which listed on the NZX in 2020, now owns 11,710ha of rural land on New Zealand’s South Island.

The firm took more than NZ$150m in commitments in 2021 across its permanent crop, forestry, dairy and farming vehicles.

Specialty Sales, which provides products and services to help prevent hoof disease among dairy farm herds, is set to become a $10m-plus EBITDA platform.

Confidence among farmers is strong after a bumper 2020 winter crop, with hopes that a repeat this year will set the sector up for years to come.

Proterra Investment Partners' Asia arm has grown to the point where it accounts for most of the firm’s AUM and is the focus for the firm’s future growth.

The firm was also granted a seat on the Simple Love’s board as its continues to make inroads into the Asia food sector through its third flagship food fund.

Investment manager Sapient Capital Partners is targeting a net IRR of 12%-14% for its first dairy fund, which has lined up a seed portfolio of assets in Australia.

The vehicle aims to raise A$500m in its first 12 months, providing loans of A$10m-$150m to counterparties across a variety of commodities.

The aggregation of seven dairy farms in Victoria is in the ‘top echelon’ of Australian dairy producers, a source says.