Scott Fortune's questions to Farmland Partners Inc (FPI) leadership • Q3 2024
Question
Scott Fortune asked for a geographic breakdown of the recent asset sales to understand the portfolio's resulting concentration, particularly in the Corn Belt versus other regions. He also inquired about the financial health of farmers amid commodity price volatility and the company's expectations for rent increases in 2025.
Answer
Executive Chairman Paul Pittman detailed that the sold assets were primarily located in the Southeastern U.S., the Delta region, and Nebraska, which increases the portfolio's concentration in high-quality Illinois farmland. Pittman described the current farming environment as challenging but stable, with farmer margins being thin but positive. Consequently, he revised 2025 rent growth expectations down from a potential 5-10% to a range of flat to at best 5% up.