Gladstone Land Corp. Is Evaluating Its Permanent Cropland Portfolio Amid Declining Crop Prices And Rising Costs, Exploring Options Like New Leases, Joint Ventures, Or Selling Properties To Maintain Monthly Dividends And Potentially Investing In Assets For Steadier Income Or Paying Off Debt
Gladstone Land Corporation (NASDAQ:LAND) (the "Company") announced that Executive Vice President (West Coast Operations), Bill Reiman, continues to lead the Company's strategic review and assessment of its permanent cropland portfolio. Mr. Reiman has been a member of the Company's acquisition and portfolio management team since 2013 and is a fifth-generation farmer, most recently serving as Chairman of the California Strawberry Commission and the Ventura County Agricultural Association.
As the Company has noted in recent press releases and earnings calls, prices of certain permanent crops have experienced a downturn over the last 12-18 months, including, but not limited to, almonds, pistachios, and grapes, that, when combined with increased input and borrowing costs, has reduced farm margins significantly. In addition, farmland planted to permanent crops have trees, vines, or bushes that must be maintained throughout the year, leading to additional year-round costs being incurred by the farmer or landowner. Since the Company continues to pay monthly dividends, the timing and volatility of the expenses and revenues associated with permanent crops makes it more difficult to plan for monthly dividends.
As a result, the Company continues to explore its options with certain of these permanent crop farms. Such options may include entering into new leases at decreased fixed base rental rates in exchange for increasing the participation rent component, looking at joint ventures with growers, or selling certain properties on the open market or at auctions. Should the Company sell any of its assets, uses of proceeds may include investing in new assets that the Company expects would generate more steady income and reduce overall portfolio risk or paying off debt as it matures.
