North American Ag Podcast

Thinking Outside the Box When it Comes to Farmland & Farming

North American Ag Podcast with Chrissy Wozniak

May 9th, 2023

Farmland investments are more than just about the land. It's about backing the farmers who work it and protecting its long-term value. On a recent episode of the Ag Spotlight podcast, our President and COO, Chris Morris, spoke with host Chrissy Wozniak about how LandFund Partners approaches this mission from the ground up.

How To Develop Successful Farmland Investments

Founded in 2013, LandFund Partners began with a single acquisition. Today, we manage over 40,000 acres across the Mississippi River Valley. Our team focuses exclusively on this region for three key reasons: access to abundant groundwater, diverse crop opportunities, and attractive land valuations relative to the Midwest.

“We wanted to build a business that made sense for investors and offered flexibility to producers,” Chris shared. “This region gives our farmers more tools to succeed, whether they plant cotton, rice, peanuts, or soybeans.” Our model is simple yet powerful: LandFund raises capital from U.S. investors to acquire high-quality row crop farmland.

We then lease those properties to preferred, local farmers. Our relationships with farmers, built on trust and mutual respect, are at the heart of our success.

“Most of our leases are annual cash rents,” Chris explained. “That flexibility lets both parties succeed as commodity prices shift. We consult closely with our farmers to ensure they have the necessary infrastructure, from irrigation upgrades to new grain bins. We want to deliver a turnkey farm they can rely on.”

This hands-on approach is what we believe sets LandFund Partners apart. The team handles logistics, repairs, and capital improvements, allowing farmers to focus on what they do best: growing high-quality crops.

Behind every investment is a long-term relationship. “Many of our tenants stay with us five to seven years or longer,” Chris said. “And a lot of our acquisitions come through those same farmers who want to expand. That kind of alignment is key.”

Regenerative Farming Practices

LandFund Partners is proactive regarding farmland stewardship. We are committed to regenerative farming practices. Regenerative agriculture includes practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and reduced-nitrogen application, which are becoming standard across our portfolio.

The decision to implement these regenerative agricultural practices always starts with each farmer, which is a sustainable and responsible approach to farming.

“We’re not prescriptive,” Chris emphasized. “We work with farmers to apply these practices where they make sense. It’s about long-term commitment, not short-term trends.”

That commitment also extends to helping farmers navigate conservation and climate-focused government programs. “We want to make sure they’re taking advantage of every opportunity to improve soil health and reduce input costs,” he said.

Solutions For Farmers

LandFund’s approach has also offered creative succession solutions for retiring farmers or families managing generational land holdings. Chris pointed to the 721 exchange. The 721 exchange is a tool that allows landowners to contribute their property into a limited partnership in exchange for equity. This defers tax burdens and avoids family disputes.

“We’ve seen more deals where the seller stays on the land and continues farming under a lease-back arrangement,” Chris noted. “It’s a way to unlock liquidity while keeping the farm operational.”

Farmland Investors

LandFund’s investors range from individuals to foundations, all based in the U.S. Our investors see the value in owning productive farmland with strong fundamentals. “Farmland is stable, tangible, and resilient,” Chris said. “And we’re not flipping land or building apartments. We’re focused on long-term ownership.”

When asked why he serves the agriculture industry, Chris’s answer was clear: “The U.S. farmer feeds the world. We’re proud to support that mission by delivering reliable, high-quality land for them to farm.”

LandFund Partners doesn’t just invest in farmland. We invest in its future alongside the farmers who work it daily.

Listen to the full episode here: North American Ag Podcast

To learn more, contact [email protected].

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