Buyers hunting for right farm
It could be that buyers are hunting out the right farm to purchase as farm sales drop for the three months ended December 2023. That’s according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).
Farm sales are on the rise. According to recent data from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), there was an 18.9% increase in farm sales for the three months ending August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
However, this was still a 10% decrease on the 231 sales recorded for the three months ending July 2024.
In total, 923 farms were sold in the year to August 2024, a decline of 166 farms compared to the previous year.
Overall, the REINZ All Farm Price Index showed stability, with a slight decrease of 2.1% in the three months leading up to August compared to July.
The three months leading to August 2023 marked a 3.2% decline.
REINZ rural spokesman Shane O’Brien says that despite the headwinds currently faced by the rural sector, it is encouraging to see sales levels reach the same levels of the past two years, with 57 sales recorded in August 2024 compared to 55 in August 2022 and 51 in August 2023.
“August is traditionally a slow month for sales as many sellers wait for the warmer spring months and the traditionally busier selling months of October to December,” O’Brien says.
“Many agents across the country are reporting increased enquiries during the month, with many tipping, so there could be some renewed confidence among buyers towards the dairy and dairy support sectors of the market,” he says.
For the three months ending August 2024, the median sales price per hectare for dairy farms was $36,930, compared to $35,705 for the three months ending July 2024 and $35,960 for the three months ending August 2023. The median price per hectare for dairy farms has increased by 2.7% over the past 12 months.
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.
WoolWorks, New Zealand’s largest wool-scouring company, has partnered with the Lions Club of Riverton to help raise money for much-needed repairs to the Southland town’s swimming pool.
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.