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Illinois farmland prices will decline between 1 percent and 5 percent in 2015 according to nearly 50 percent of respondents to a survey conducted by The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

The longer-term impact of low oil prices on the agriculture sector remains the subject of much speculation, writes Andrew Wood, senior associate at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.

Figures released by Meat and Livestock Australia last month recorded a surprise jump in live cattle exports to Vietnam.

Plantings of semi-annual commodities such as corn, rice, sorghum and soybean fell as producers struggled with strong currency and falling commodities.

Recently falling food prices are not here to stay, according to Jane Harrigan, Professor of Economics at SOAS. But food-importing countries should be careful with their food security strategies.

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.