Farm sales start to look up

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) shows that farm sales increased by 22.3% in the three months ended December 2019 compared to the three months ended November 2019, with 345 and 282 sales respectively. 

The lift follows a fall in the year ending December 2019: 1,266 farms were sold in 2019, 15.8% fewer than 2018, with 41.6% less dairy farms, 2.8% less Grazing farms, 31.4% less finishing farms, and 10.8% less arable farms sold.

The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to December 2019 was $38,152 compared to $40,589 recorded for three months ended December 2018 (-6.0%). 

The median price per hectare decreased by 3.8% compared to November 2019.  

Five of the 14 regions recorded an increase in the number of farm sales for the three months ended December 2019 compared to the three months ended December 2018 with the most notable being Auckland (+12) and West Coast and Otago (both +5). 

Waikato recorded the most substantial decline in sales (-32 sales) followed by Northland and Southland (both -16 sales). 

Compared to the three months ended November 2019, nine regions recorded an increase in sales with the biggest increase being in Manawatu/Wanganui (+23), Waikato (+19) and Taranaki (+7 sales). 

“Whilst sales volumes for the 3-month period ending December 2019 were down significantly on the equivalent period 12 months ago, there was nevertheless a distinct improvement on the previous 3-month period ending November 2019,” says REINZ Rural Spokesman, Brian Peacocke.

REINZ Rural Spokesman, Brian Peacocke.

“Of particular significance was the lift in dairy farm sales in the Waikato, from 2 per month for October and November to 11 for December 2019.

“Modest gains were also recorded in the finishing and horticulture sectors, with a strong lift in volume in the grazing sector during the month of December.

“Product prices remained strong leading into the Christmas/New Year holiday period, with increasingly optimistic forecasts emerging for the milk payout in the dairy sector.

“There is little evidence of change in the market-suppressing stance from the majority of the trading banks where it would appear one bank in particular is enjoying the benefit of leaving the shop door open.

“Whilst rural morale is generally good, a mood of caution exists relating to the forthcoming summer dry period, and huge sympathy is evident as New Zealand farmers empathize with their fire-ravaged Australian counterparts,” says Peacocke.