Farm sales recovering

But rural market spokesman Brian Peacocke, Waikato, says business still isn't back to normal.

"It's increased over the past three months but from a very low base.... There's still a decided air of caution out there, among purchasers in particular," he told Dairy News.

Sales are going through where both parties' expectations are realistic. Where there's a sticking point, it's generally because vendor expectations still haven't adjusted to lower market values, he adds.

Grazing properties topped the turnover table for the three months ended February, making up over half the 351 farms sold. That volume is 72% up on the same period a year previously, though the median value was only a whisker up at $21,641/ha, compared to $21,266/ha. To February 2010 the median was $19,188/ha.

Dairy farms accounted for 61 sales at a median of $34,223/ha, down from $36,687/ha across 50 sales a year previously. In 2010 the figures were $31,203/ha on 34 sales.

Peacocke says it's impossible to say how many grazing or other non-dairy properties are being bought with the intention of conversion but notes 50-70 South Island farms are expected to convert this year.

However, one recent cropping farm sale in Canterbury, completed too late to be included in February's figures, indicates that in places cropping farmers are fighting back, going through at $42,000/ha.

"If you converted that to dairy you'd be looking at $60,000/ha. That's well ahead of what you could buy an established dairy farm for in the area."

Fonterra's 15c/kg payout forecast cut earlier this month will have little impact on the market, he believes, as it was "not unexpected."

"I think most people are relatively comfortable with where it's at and the payout's coming from a relatively high base."

With most farms having a good season, increased production largely compensates for the lower price in any case, he adds.

"There is a degree of wariness that this might be the start of further reductions, but a lot will depend on the [2012-13] payout forecast announcement in May.

"Most people are budgeting conservatively now; that may be at $6/kgMS instead of $6.20/kgMS."

As for where the buying interest is coming from, Peacocke says the "predominant buyer is always the family farm interest."

However, there's an increase in investor interest, driven by a motivation to find a safe haven for money, rather than realising a high rate of return.

"Corporate-type buyers are reasonably active too."

A $29 million, 898ha dairy farm sale in Southland went to such a buyer, he notes.

Overseas interest continues, particularly in the lower half of the South. Some is from ex-pats looking to come home, and there's continued interest from Europe. "People seem to gloss over that and isolate the Crafar deal."