farm fields

The sizzling market for farmland may be ready to take a breather

Alberta land prices are still heading up, but double-digit 
annual rises appear to be over for now

Reading Time: 3 minutes The red-hot market for farmland is showing signs of cooling off. “The more recent sales are still showing some increase, but the increases aren’t what they have been previously,” said Dave Weber, an appraiser with Serecon, an agricultural consulting company. Alberta farmland values were increasing about one per cent a month during 2011 and 2012, […] Read more



farmland at havest

Ask the big questions before buying land

Answering 16 Questions to Consider before Buying Farmland is a good way to avoid buyer’s remorse


Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta farmers are still keen to buy land, says a farm financial specialist. “Interest rates remain low and, although some farms have experienced some cash flow problems, the majority of Alberta farms has a strong balance sheet and is interested in purchasing additional land, should the opportunity arise,” said Rick Dehod. But before making a […] Read more

S. Africa’s proposed ban on foreign land ownership aimed at farms

Johannesburg | Reuters — A South African government proposal to ban foreign nationals from owning land will apply to farms, not residential property, a government minister was quoted as saying Tuesday. In his State of the Nation address last week, President Jacob Zuma said foreigners would be barred from owning land and South African citizens […] Read more


Australian countryside near Bendigo, northwest of Melbourne. (CIA.gov)

Australia tightens rules over foreign buying of farmland

Sydney | Reuters –– Australia tightened rules on Wednesday over foreign ownership of its agricultural land amid concerns that it is losing control of its own food security, slashing the amount beyond which land purchases would require regulatory approval. From March 1, foreign purchases of agricultural land over A$15 million (C$14.51 million) will be subject […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Sask. eyes tougher rules on investor farm buys

Saskatoon | Reuters — Saskatchewan is likely to tighten what are already some of North America’s strictest rules for purchasing farmland, as it looks to fend off big money managers hungry for what they see as a winning investment. The province, whose fertile plains grow more wheat than Argentina, has become the latest front in […] Read more