Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024
or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-36405
FARMLAND PARTNERS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Maryland
46-3769850
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
4600 South Syracuse Street, Suite 1450
Denver, Colorado
80237-2766
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(720) 452-3100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
FPI
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
As of July 19, 2024, 48,166,860 shares of the Registrant’s common stock (49,370,199 on a fully diluted basis, including 1,203,339 Common Units of limited partnership interests in the registrant’s operating partnership) were outstanding.
Farmland Partners Inc.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
June 30, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
9
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Page
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Consolidated Financial Statements
Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2024 (unaudited) and December 31, 2023
3
Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)
4
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)
5
Statements of Changes in Equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)
6
Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (unaudited)
8
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
10
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
31
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
48
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
49
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
50
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits
2
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of June 30, 2024 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2023
(in thousands, except par value and share data)
June 30,
December 31,
2024
2023
ASSETS
Land, at cost
$
885,993
869,848
Grain facilities
12,459
12,222
Groundwater
11,033
11,472
Irrigation improvements
41,683
41,988
Drainage improvements
10,315
Permanent plantings
42,316
39,620
Other
4,708
4,696
Construction in progress
1,559
4,453
Real estate, at cost
1,010,066
994,614
Less accumulated depreciation
(34,553)
(33,083)
Total real estate, net
975,513
961,531
Deposits
—
426
Cash and cash equivalents
5,746
5,489
Assets held for sale
24
28
Loans and financing receivables, net
31,438
31,020
Right of use asset
298
399
Accounts receivable, net
1,128
7,743
Derivative asset
1,756
1,707
Inventory
3,021
2,335
Equity method investments
4,071
4,136
Intangible assets, net
2,025
2,035
Goodwill
2,706
Prepaid and other assets
765
2,447
TOTAL ASSETS
1,028,491
1,022,002
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Mortgage notes and bonds payable, net
391,059
360,859
Lease liability
Dividends payable
2,967
13,286
Accrued interest
4,702
4,747
Accrued property taxes
1,799
1,898
Deferred revenue
1,283
2,149
Accrued expenses
4,429
7,854
Total liabilities
406,537
391,192
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 8)
Redeemable non-controlling interest in operating partnership, Series A preferred units
100,485
101,970
EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 48,166,909 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024, and 48,002,716 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023
465
466
Additional paid in capital
578,166
577,253
Retained earnings
29,297
31,411
Cumulative dividends
(101,723)
(95,939)
Other comprehensive income
2,521
2,691
Non-controlling interests in operating partnership
12,743
12,958
Total equity
521,469
528,840
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS IN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AND EQUITY
See accompanying notes.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
For the Three Months Ended
For the Six Months Ended
OPERATING REVENUES:
Rental income
9,539
10,220
19,746
20,946
Crop sales
935
515
1,595
875
Other revenue
971
849
2,094
2,435
Total operating revenues
11,445
11,584
23,435
24,256
OPERATING EXPENSES
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
1,430
2,207
2,911
4,001
Property operating expenses
1,870
2,428
3,668
4,610
Cost of goods sold
761
980
1,302
1,926
Acquisition and due diligence costs
27
14
General and administrative expenses
3,737
2,904
6,364
5,510
Legal and accounting
407
281
740
526
Other operating expenses
36
76
Total operating expenses
8,205
8,827
15,048
16,663
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:
Other (income) expense
52
75
(68)
64
(Income) loss from equity method investment
(18)
(5)
(95)
22
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets, net
(11,060)
96
(12,886)
(Income) from forfeited deposits
(1,205)
Interest expense
5,249
5,844
10,285
10,768
Total other expense
5,293
(5,146)
9,013
(2,032)
Net income (loss) before income tax (benefit) expense
(2,053)
7,903
(626)
9,625
Income tax (benefit) expense
(1)
18
13
NET INCOME (LOSS)
(2,052)
7,899
(644)
9,612
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests in operating partnership
(188)
15
(226)
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company
(2,002)
7,711
(629)
9,386
Dividend equivalent rights allocated to performance-based unvested restricted shares
(2)
(4)
Nonforfeitable distributions allocated to time-based unvested restricted shares
(22)
(27)
(44)
(43)
Distributions on Series A Preferred Units
(743)
(683)
(1,486)
(1,485)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders of Farmland Partners Inc.
(2,769)
7,001
(2,163)
7,858
Basic and diluted per common share data:
Basic net income (loss) available to common stockholders
(0.06)
0.14
(0.05)
0.15
Diluted net income (loss) available to common stockholders
0.12
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
47,798
50,860
47,751
52,425
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
59,112
Dividends declared per common share
0.06
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands)
Net income (loss)
Amortization of other comprehensive income
198
Net change associated with current period hedging activities
44
589
(170)
Comprehensive income (loss)
(2,008)
8,488
(814)
9,818
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Farmland Partners Inc.
(1,958)
8,300
(799)
9,592
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Other Comprehensive Income
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 (Unaudited)
Stockholders’ Equity
Non-controlling
Additional
Interests in
Paid in
Retained
Cumulative
Comprehensive
Operating
Total
Shares
Par Value
Capital
Earnings
Dividends
Income
Partnership
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2023
48,003
Net income
1,373
35
1,408
Issuance of stock
34
Grant of unvested restricted stock
165
Shares withheld for income taxes on vesting of equity-based compensation
(16)
(177)
Stock-based compensation
491
Dividends accrued and paid
(2,891)
(72)
(3,706)
Net change associated with current period hedging transactions
(215)
Adjustments to non-controlling interests resulting from changes in ownership of operating partnership
47
(47)
Balance at March 31, 2024
48,155
577,648
32,041
(98,830)
2,476
12,874
526,675
Net (loss)
(50)
12
510
(742)
(2,893)
(73)
(3,708)
45
(8)
Balance at June 30, 2024
48,167
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Balance at December 31, 2022
54,318
531
647,346
3,567
(73,964)
3,306
13,218
594,004
1,676
38
1,714
54
223
(3)
(36)
405
(803)
(3,185)
(74)
(4,062)
Net change associated with current period hedging transactions and amortization of other comprehensive (loss)
(383)
Repurchase and cancellation of shares
(1,458)
(15)
(14,577)
(14,592)
17
(17)
Balance at March 31, 2023
53,085
516
633,209
4,440
(77,149)
2,923
13,165
577,104
7,710
188
7,898
33
473
(782)
(2,929)
(75)
(3,786)
Net change associated with current period hedging transactions and amortization of other comprehensive income
(4,137)
(41)
(47,056)
(47,097)
77
(77)
Balance at June 30, 2023
48,951
475
586,736
11,368
(80,078)
3,512
13,201
535,214
7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred financing fees and discounts/premiums on debt
370
331
Amortization of net origination fees related to notes receivable
(9)
(11)
1,003
878
Bad debt expense
Current and expected credit losses
(10)
Amortization of dedesignated interest rate swap
53
Loss on debt modification
55
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) Decrease in accounts receivable
5,003
5,587
(Increase) Decrease in interest receivable
(53)
(Increase) Decrease in other assets
2,108
1,826
(Increase) Decrease in inventory
(686)
56
Increase (Decrease) in accrued interest
(45)
946
Increase (Decrease) in accrued expenses
(2,067)
(2,612)
Increase (Decrease) in deferred revenue
(866)
1,607
Increase (Decrease) in accrued property taxes
(101)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities
5,808
9,394
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Real estate acquisitions
(16,255)
(9,003)
Real estate and other improvements
(873)
(2,592)
Distributions from equity method investees
161
Collections of principal on loans
490
Issuance of loans and financing receivables
(878)
Proceeds from sale of property
1,610
51,537
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities
(15,745)
39,949
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings from mortgage notes payable
72,501
68,001
Repayments on mortgage notes payable
(42,634)
(33,968)
87
Common stock repurchased
(61,689)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(93)
(197)
Payment of swap fees
(219)
Redemption of Series A preferred units
(8,100)
Dividends on common stock
(15,850)
(6,436)
(178)
Distributions on Series A preferred units
(2,970)
(3,210)
Distributions to non-controlling interests in operating partnership, common
(397)
(148)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) financing activities
10,194
(45,769)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
257
3,574
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
7,654
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
11,228
Cash paid during period for interest
10,662
9,955
Cash paid during period for taxes
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
Dividend payable, common stock
2,892
2,937
Dividend payable, common units
72
74
Distributions payable, Series A preferred units
1,485
Additions to real estate improvements included in accrued expenses
94
437
Origination fees included in notes receivable
Swap fees payable included in accrued interest
146
Prepaid property tax liability acquired in acquisitions
32
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
386
Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements as of June 30, 2024
Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
Farmland Partners Inc. (“FPI”), collectively with its subsidiaries, is an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality farmland located in agricultural markets throughout North America. FPI was incorporated in Maryland on September 27, 2013. FPI elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with its short taxable year ended December 31, 2014.
FPI is the sole member of the sole general partner of Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP (the “Operating Partnership”), which was formed in Delaware on September 27, 2013. All of FPI’s assets are held by, and its operations are primarily conducted through, the Operating Partnership and the wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. As of June 30, 2024, FPI owned a 97.6% interest in the Operating Partnership. See “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests” for additional discussion regarding Class A Common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Common units”) and Series A preferred units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“Series A preferred units”). Unlike holders of FPI’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“common stock”), holders of the Operating Partnership’s Common units and Series A preferred units generally do not have voting rights or the power to direct the affairs of FPI. As of June 30, 2024, the Operating Partnership owned a 9.97% equity interest in an unconsolidated equity method investment that holds 11 properties (see “Note 4—Related Party Transactions”).
References to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” mean collectively FPI and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.
As of June 30, 2024, the Company owned a portfolio of approximately 134,700 acres of farmland, which is consolidated in these financial statements. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, we owned land and buildings for four agriculture equipment dealerships in Ohio leased to Ag-Pro Ohio, LLC (“Ag Pro”) under the John Deere brand and served as property manager for approximately 45,400 acres of farmland (see “Note 6—Loans and Financing Receivables”).
On March 16, 2015, the Company formed FPI Agribusiness Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary (the “TRS” or “FPI Agribusiness”), as a taxable REIT subsidiary. We engage directly in farming, provide property management, auction, and brokerage services and volume purchasing services to our tenants through the TRS. As of June 30, 2024, the TRS performed direct farming operations on 2,103 acres of farmland owned by the Company located in California.
All references to numbers and percent of acres within this report are unaudited.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of FPI and the Operating Partnership. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the presentation used in the current year. Such reclassifications had no effect on net income or total equity.
Interim Financial Information
The information in the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company as of June 30, 2024 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 is unaudited. The accompanying financial statements include adjustments based on management’s estimates (consisting of normal and recurring accruals), which the Company considers necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods. The financial information should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 29, 2024. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of actual operating results for the entire year ending December 31, 2024.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, the impacts of public health crises, the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, substantially higher prices for oil and gas and substantially increased interest rates, and their effects on the domestic and global economies. We are unable to quantify the ultimate impact of these factors on our business.
Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Liquidity Policy
The Company manages its liquidity position and expected liquidity needs taking into consideration current cash balances, undrawn availability under its lines of credit ($158.1 million as of June 30, 2024), and reasonably expected cash receipts. The business model of the Company, and of real estate investment companies in general, utilizes debt as a structural source of financing. When debt becomes due, it is generally refinanced rather than repaid using the Company’s cash flow from operations. The Company has a history of being able to refinance its debt obligations prior to maturity. Furthermore, the Company also has a substantial portfolio of real estate assets that management believes could be readily liquidated if necessary to fund any immediate liquidity needs. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had $391.1 million of mortgage and other debt against a portfolio of real estate assets with a net book value of $975.5 million.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are presented at face value, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts was less than $0.1 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a reduction to rental revenue if in relation to revenues recognized in the year, or as property operating expenses if in relation to revenue recognized in the prior years.
Inventory consists of costs related to crops grown on farms directly operated by the TRS and is separated into growing crop inventory, harvested crop inventory or general inventory, as appropriate.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, inventory consisted of the following:
December 31, 2023
Harvested crop
2,020
246
Growing crop
1,001
2,089
11
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company did not incur any impairment charges related to goodwill and intangible assets.
The Company recorded amortization of customer relationships of less than $0.1 million during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
There have been no recently adopted accounting standards.
Note 2—Revenue Recognition
Fixed Rent: The majority of the Company’s leases provide for rent payments on an entirely or partially fixed basis. For the majority of its fixed farm rent leases, the Company receives at least 50% of the annual lease payment from tenants before crops are planted, generally during the first quarter of the year, with the remaining 50% of the lease payment due in the second half of the year generally after the crops are harvested. Rental income is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Certain of the Company’s leases provide for tenants to reimburse the Company for property taxes and other expenses. These tenant reimbursements and rent payments are treated as a single lease component because the timing and pattern of revenue recognition is the same. This means that rental income is equal in all periods of the lease, calculated by adding all expected lease payments (including increases within the lease) and dividing by the number of periods, despite the cash rents being received in lump sums at the specific times as described above. The lease term generally considers periods when a tenant: (1) may not terminate its lease obligation early; (2) may terminate its lease obligation early in exchange for a fee or penalty that the Company considers material enough such that termination would not be probable; (3) possesses renewal rights and the tenant’s failure to exercise such rights imposes a penalty on the tenant material enough such that renewal appears reasonably assured; or (4) possesses bargain renewal options for such periods. Payments received in advance are included in deferred revenue until they are earned.
Variable Rent: Certain of the Company’s leases provide for a rent payment determined as a percentage of the gross farm proceeds in their entirety or above a certain threshold. Revenue under leases providing for variable rent may be recorded at the guaranteed crop insurance minimums and recognized ratably over the lease term during the crop year. Upon notification from the grain or packing facility that a future contract for delivery of the harvest has been finalized or when the tenant has notified the Company of the total amount of gross farm proceeds, revenue is recognized for the excess of the actual gross farm proceeds and the previously recognized minimum guaranteed insurance.
Fixed Rent and Variable Rent: Certain of the Company’s leases provide for a minimum fixed rent plus variable rent based on gross farm revenue.
The following table presents rental income that is disaggregated by revenue source for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
For the three months ended
For the six months ended
Fixed Farm Rent
8,204
8,610
16,827
17,404
Solar, Wind and Recreation Rent
623
700
1,277
1,470
Tenant Reimbursements
679
831
1,400
1,869
Variable Rent
79
242
203
The Company’s leases generally have terms ranging from one to three years, with some extending up to 40 years (e.g., renewable energy leases). Payments received in advance are included in deferred revenue until they are earned. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $1.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively, in deferred revenue. Both periods included a deferred gain of approximately $2.1 million in connection with the sale of two properties that
occurred during the three months ended December 31, 2023, whereby the Company provided approximately $9.5 million of seller financing. The deferred gain will be recognized at such time as the Company considers collection of the seller financing to be probable under applicable accounting standards.
The majority of the Company’s revenue is derived from rental income. The Company elected an accounting policy to account for both its lease and non-lease components (specifically, tenant reimbursements) as a single lease component under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Lease Accounting.
The following sets forth a summary of rental income recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Rental income recognized
Leases in effect at the beginning of the year
8,233
9,836
17,369
20,283
Leases entered into during the year
1,306
384
2,377
663
Future minimum fixed rent payments from tenants under all non-cancelable leases in place as of June 30, 2024, including lease advances when contractually due, but excluding crop share and tenant reimbursement of expenses, for the remainder of 2024 and each of the next four years and thereafter as of June 30, 2024 are as follows:
Future rental
Year Ending December 31,
payments
2024 (remaining six months)
16,393
2025
24,026
2026
18,238
2027
8,229
2028
3,885
Thereafter
49,377
120,148
Since lease renewal periods are exercisable at the option of the lessee, the preceding table presents future minimum lease payments due during the initial lease term only.
Crop Sales: For farms directly operated through the TRS, the Company records revenue from the sale of harvested crops when the harvested crop has been contracted to be delivered to a grain or packing facility and title has transferred. During the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, revenues from the sale of harvested crops recognized were $0.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Revenues from the sale of harvested crops recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $1.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively. The cost of harvested crops sold was $0.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the cost of harvested crops sold was $1.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Harvested crops are recorded using the market price at the date the harvested crop is delivered to the grain or packing facility and title has transferred.
Other Revenue: Other revenue includes crop insurance proceeds, auction fees, brokerage fees, interest income, and property management income. Crop insurance proceeds are recognized when the amount is determinable and collectible. Crop insurance proceeds are generally received in lieu of crop sales on farms directly operated through the TRS. The Company generates auction revenue by contracting with a real estate owner to market and auction farm property. Successful bidders sign a purchase agreement immediately following the auction. Auction fee revenue is recognized upon completion of the auction. The Company generates real estate brokerage commissions by acting as a broker for real estate investors or owners seeking to buy or sell farm property. Revenue from brokerage fees is recognized upon completion of the transaction. Property management revenue is recognized over the term of the contract as services are being provided. The Company collects property management fees in advance of the commencement of property management activities on behalf of third parties and includes them in deferred revenue until they are earned over the life of the contract. Interest income is recognized on loans and financing receivables on an accrual basis over the life of the loans. Direct origination
costs are netted against loan origination fees and are amortized over the life of the note using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, as an adjustment to interest income which is included as a component of other revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
The following table presents other revenue that is disaggregated by revenue source for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Auction and brokerage fees
89
167
371
504
Crop insurance proceeds
29
624
Property management income
259
235
488
422
Other (e.g., interest income)
418
1,235
885
Note 3—Concentration Risk
Credit Risk
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company had one tenant representing $1.0 million of rental income, or 10.29%. For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company had no significant tenants representing a tenant concentration of 10% or greater of period revenue. Revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 is not necessarily indicative of actual revenue for the entire year ending December 31, 2024. The Company receives a significant portion of its variable rental payments in the fourth quarter of each year, typically resulting in at least one tenant concentration of 10% or greater revenue in that quarter and for the year. If a significant tenant fails to make rental payments to the Company or elects to terminate its leases, and the land cannot be re-leased on satisfactory terms, there may be a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial performance.
Geographic Risk
The following table summarizes the percentage of approximate total acres owned as of June 30, 2024 and 2023, and the fixed and variable rent recorded by the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 by location of the farm:
Approximate %
Rental Income (1)
of total acres
As of June 30,
Location of Farm (2)
Corn Belt
34.5
%
28.6
50.3
43.7
48.4
43.6
Delta and South
19.6
20.9
10.1
15.0
10.5
13.9
High Plains
16.2
20.7
6.8
9.9
6.6
Southeast
21.4
22.4
23.7
20.8
24.1
West Coast
8.3
7.4
13.2
7.7
13.7
8.5
100.0
Due to regional disparities in the use of leases with variable rent and seasonal variations in the recognition of variable rent revenue, regional comparisons by rental income are not fully representative of each region’s income-producing capacity until a full year is taken into account.
Corn Belt includes farms located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, eastern Nebraska and Ohio. Delta and South includes farms located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma. High Plains includes farms located in Colorado, Kansas and Texas. Southeast includes farms located in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. West Coast includes farms located in California.
Note 4—Related Party Transactions
On July 21, 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement with American Agriculture Aviation LLC (“American Ag Aviation”) for the use of a private plane. American Ag Aviation is a Colorado limited liability company that is owned 100% by Paul A. Pittman, the Company’s Executive Chairman. The private plane was generally utilized when commercial air travel was not readily available or practical to and from a particular location. The Company incurred no costs during
either of the three or six months ended June 30, 2024 and less than $0.1 million during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, to American Ag Aviation for use of the aircraft in accordance with the lease agreement. Generally, costs are recognized based on the nature of the associated use of the aircraft consistently with other travel expenses, as follows: (i) general and administrative - expensed as general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations; (ii) land acquisition (accounted for as an asset acquisition) - allocated to the acquired real estate assets within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets; and (iii) land acquisition (accounted for as a business combination) - expensed as acquisition and due diligence costs within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In November 2023, the lease agreement was terminated due to American Ag Aviation’s disposition of its private plane.
Note 5—Real Estate
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company completed acquisitions of three properties in the Corn Belt region. Aggregate consideration for these acquisitions totaled $16.3 million. No intangible assets were acquired through these acquisitions.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company completed acquisitions of two properties in the Corn Belt and Delta and South regions. Aggregate consideration for these acquisitions totaled $9.0 million. No intangible assets were acquired through these acquisitions.
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company had no property dispositions. In addition, during the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a deferred gain of approximately $2.1 million in connection with the sale of two properties, whereby the Company provided approximately $9.5 million of seller financing. The deferred gain will be recognized at such time as the Company considers collection of the seller financing to be probable under applicable accounting standards.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company completed dispositions of 19 properties in the Corn Belt, Delta and South and Southeast regions. The Company received cash consideration for these dispositions totaling $51.5 million and recognized an aggregate gain on sale of $12.9 million. Of the $51.5 million in cash consideration, $2.2 million was considered restricted cash as it was held in a financial institution for an in-process, like-kind exchange.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred an immaterial amount of costs related to acquisitions and due diligence.
Note 6—Loans and Financing Receivables
The Company offers an agricultural lending product focused on farmers as a complement to the Company’s business of acquiring and owning farmland and leasing it to farmers. Under the FPI Loan Program, the Company makes loans to third-party farmers (both tenant and non-tenant) to provide financing for property acquisitions, working capital requirements, operational farming activities, farming infrastructure projects and for other farming and agricultural real estate related projects. The Company seeks to make loans that are collateralized by farm real estate or growing crops and in principal amounts of $1.0 million or more at fixed interest rates with maturities of up to six years. The Company expects the borrower to repay the loans in accordance with the loan agreements based on farming operations and access to other forms of capital, as permitted.
In addition to loans made under the FPI Loan Program, the Company, on certain occasions, makes short-term loans to tenants secured by collateral other than real estate, such as growing crops, equipment or inventory, when the Company believes such loans will ensure the orderly completion of farming operations on a property owned by the Company for a given crop year and other credit is not available to the borrower.
On November 18, 2022, the Company acquired land and buildings for four agriculture equipment dealerships in Ohio leased to Ag Pro (the seller), under the John Deere brand. In accordance with ASC Topic 842, control is not considered to have transferred to the Company under GAAP and these transactions are accounted for as financing arrangements under ASC 310 “Receivables” rather than as investments in real estate subject to operating leases. The leases mature in November 2037 and contain renewal options for periods up to 20 years from the original maturity date. The discount rate used for the transactions was 6.15%.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company held the following loans and financing receivables:
($ in thousands)
Outstanding as of
Maturity
Loan
Terms
Date
Loans under FPI Loan Program:
Mortgage Note (1)
Principal & interest due at maturity
207
210
12/7/2028
Mortgage Note (2)
Principal due at maturity & interest due quarterly
1,842
1,900
3/3/2025
Mortgage Note (3)
1,800
11/17/2028
Mortgage Note (4)
Principal due at maturity & interest due semi-annually
7,648
8,009
12/28/2024
Mortgage Note (5)
1,424
1,491
Mortgage Note (6)
Principal due at maturity & interest due monthly
500
6/30/2025
Line of Credit (7)
893
1/31/2025
Total outstanding principal
14,314
13,910
Sale-leaseback transactions accounted for as financing arrangements:
Financing Receivable, net (8)
Monthly payments in accordance with lease agreement
5,933
5,920
11/17/2037
4,497
4,498
3,564
3,563
3,234
3,237
Total financing receivable
17,228
17,218
Interest receivable (net prepaid interest and points)
60
Allowance for credit losses
(158)
(168)
Provision for interest receivable
Total Loans and financing receivables, net
Loans and financing receivables are stated at their unpaid principal balance and include unamortized direct origination costs and accrued interest through the reporting date, less any allowance for losses and unearned borrower paid points. The Company monitors its receivables based upon historical collection experience, collateral values, current trends, long-term probability of default (“PD”) and estimated loss given default (“LGD”). Accrued interest write-offs are recognized as credit loss expense. The Company has estimated its credit losses on its loan balances in accordance with ASC 326 to be less than $0.1 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Additionally, the Company has recorded an allowance for credit losses on its financing receivables of less than $0.1 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The Company recorded no credit loss expense related to receivables during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There were no charge-offs or recoveries for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, all payments under loans and financing receivables have been received in accordance with the agreements.
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The following tables detail the allowance for credit losses as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Amortized Cost
Allowance
Allowance as a %of Amortized Cost
Loans under FPI Loan Program
14,368
(66)
14,302
0.46
Financing Receivables
(92)
17,136
0.53
Totals
31,596
0.50
13,970
(76)
13,894
0.54
17,126
31,188
The following chart reflects the roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses for our loans and financing receivables for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Six months ended June 30,
Balance at beginning of period
Initial allowance for financing receivables
Initial allowance for loan receivables
Current period change in credit allowance
Charge-offs
Recoveries
Balance at end of period
The collateral for the mortgage notes receivable consists of real estate and personal property.
The Company estimates the fair value of loans and financing receivables using Level 3 inputs under the hierarchy established by GAAP. Fair value is estimated by discounting cash flows using interest rates based on management’s estimates of market interest rates on loans receivable with comparable terms and credit risk whenever the interest rates on the loans receivable are deemed not to be at market rates. The fair value for financing receivables does not take into consideration any residual value upon the end of the lease term. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the estimated fair value of the loans and financing receivables was $24.7 million and $24.5 million, respectively.
Note 7—Mortgage Notes, Lines of Credit and Bonds Payable
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following indebtedness outstanding:
Book
Annual
Value of
Interest
Principal
Collateral
Rate as of
Next
as of
Interest Rate
Adjustment
Payment Terms
Farmer Mac Bond #6
Semi-annual
3.69%
Fixed
N/A
13,827
April 2025
18,569
Farmer Mac Bond #7
3.68%
11,160
8,173
Farmer Mac Facility
Monthly
6.83%
SOFR + 1.50%
32,500
30,000
December 2025
96,595
MetLife Term Loan #1
5.55%
72,586
72,585
March 2026
101,743
MetLife Term Loan #4
Fixed for 3 years
5,757
5,756
June 2026
9,582
MetLife Term Loan #5
5.63%
January 2026
5,179
January 2027
9,564
MetLife Term Loan #6
February 2026
21,726
February 2027
24,352
MetLife Term Loan #7
5.87%
15,434
June 2027
28,584
MetLife Term Loan #8
4.12%
Fixed for 10 years
December 2027
44,000
December 2042
110,042
MetLife Term Loan #9
6.37%
May 2027
16,800
May 2028
32,172
MetLife Term Loan #10
6.36%
48,986
October 2030
94,732
MetLife Term Loan #11
2.85%
October 2024
12,750
October 2031
27,444
MetLife Term Loan #12
3.11%
December 2024
14,359
December 2031
14,784
MetLife Facility
Quarterly
7.42%
SOFR + 2.10%
October 2027
110,612
Rabobank (1)
7.14%
SOFR + 1.81%
March 2026 ⁽²⁾
45,399
45,533
March 2028
86,301
Rutledge Facility
6.70%
SOFR + 1.40%
5,000
140,404
392,963
363,095
913,653
Debt issuance costs
(1,904)
(2,236)
Unamortized premium
Total mortgage notes and bonds payable, net
Farmer Mac Debt
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Operating Partnership had approximately $57.5 million and $55.0 million, respectively, in aggregate principal amount outstanding under the bond purchase agreement entered into in October 2022 (the “Farmer Mac Facility”) with Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Farmer Mac Mortgage Securities Corporation (collectively, “Farmer Mac”), and $40.6 million and $43.1 million, respectively, in additional capacity available under the Farmer Mac Facility. The Farmer Mac debt is secured by loans which are, in turn, secured by first-lien mortgages on agricultural real estate owned by wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership. While Farmer Mac Bond #6 and Farmer Mac Bond #7 bear fixed interest rates of 3.69% and 3.68%, respectively, the Farmer Mac Facility bears interest of one-month term SOFR + 1.50% on drawn amounts and an unused commitment fee of 0.20%. In connection with the agreements, the Company entered into a guaranty agreement whereby the Company agreed to guarantee the full performance of the Operating Partnership’s duties and obligations under the Farmer Mac debt. The Farmer Mac debt is subject to the Company’s ongoing compliance with a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as a maximum loan-to-value ratio of not more than 60%. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants at June 30, 2024. In addition, under the Farmer Mac Facility, the Operating Partnership may request that Farmer Mac purchase additional bonds up to an additional $200.0 million, which Farmer Mac may approve at its sole discretion.
MetLife Term Debt
As of each of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $257.6 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding under the credit agreements between Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (collectively, the “MetLife credit agreements”). Each of the MetLife credit agreements contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants, including the requirement to maintain a loan to value ratio of no greater than 60%.
The Company also has a $75.0 million credit facility with MetLife that provides the Company with access to additional liquidity on a revolving credit basis at a floating rate of interest equal to three-month term SOFR plus 210 basis points. As
of June 30, 2024, no amounts had been borrowed and all $75.0 million remained available under the senior secured revolving line of credit entered into by the Operating Partnership with MetLife in October 2022 (the “MetLife Facility”). As of June 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the MetLife credit agreements and MetLife guarantees.
On each adjustment date for MetLife Term Loans #1 and 4-9, MetLife may, at its option, adjust the rate of interest to any rate of interest determined by MetLife consistent with rates for substantially similar loans secured by real estate substantially similar to the collateral. For MetLife Term Loan #11, the interest rate will be adjusted to the greater of the three-year U.S. treasury rate plus 2.20% or 2.85%. For MetLife Term Loan #12, the interest rate will be adjusted to the greater of the three-year U.S. treasury rate plus 2.10% or 2.75%. At the time of rate adjustment, the Company may make a prepayment equal to the unpaid principal balance for each of the MetLife loans. Otherwise, the Company may make a prepayment equal to 20% to 50% of the unpaid principal balance (depending on the tranche of debt) during a calendar year without penalty.
Rabobank Mortgage Note
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company and the Operating Partnership had $45.4 million and $45.5 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding, respectively, under a mortgage note with Rabobank (the “Rabobank Mortgage Note”). The Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Rabobank Mortgage Note as of June 30, 2024. The Rabobank Mortgage Note was amended in March 2024 to eliminate $2.1 million of annual amortization.
As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company and the Operating Partnership had $32.5 million and $5.0 million in aggregate principal amount, respectively, outstanding under a credit agreement (the “Rutledge Facility”) with Rutledge Investment Company (“Rutledge”). During the three months ended June 30, 2024, the credit agreement was amended to reduce the interest rate to three-month SOFR plus 140 basis points, eliminate the 2.5% annual reduction in facility size, reduce the facility size to $75.0 million, and introduce an unused commitment fee of 0.20%. The Company accounted for this amendment as a debt modification, and as a result, recognized a non-cash loss of $0.06 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 within Other (income) expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additionally, the Company deferred $0.05 million in debt issuance costs in connection with the refinance. Proceeds from the $32.5 million outstanding balance as of June 30, 2024 were used to pay down the Farmer Mac Facility. As of June 30, 2024, $42.5 million remained available under the Rutledge Facility.
The interest rate for the Rutledge Facility is based on three-month SOFR plus 140 basis points. Generally, the Rutledge Facility contains terms consistent with the Company’s prior loans with Rutledge, including, among others, the representations and warranties, affirmative, negative and financial covenants and events of default.
In connection with the Rutledge agreement, the Company and the Operating Partnership each entered into separate guarantees whereby the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agreed to unconditionally guarantee the obligations under the Rutledge Facility (the “Rutledge guarantees”). The Rutledge guarantees contain a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants. As of June 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the loan agreements relating to the Rutledge Facility.
LIBOR
On July 1, 2023, the Rabobank Mortgage Note, the Company’s only remaining indebtedness with a maturity date beyond 2023 that had exposure to LIBOR, was converted to a SOFR-based instrument. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2024, the Company did not have any indebtedness that had exposure to LIBOR.
Debt Issuance Costs
Costs incurred by the Company in obtaining debt are deducted from the face amount of mortgage notes and bonds payable. Debt issuance costs are amortized using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest
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method, over the respective terms of the related indebtedness. Any unamortized amounts upon early repayment of mortgage notes payable are written off in the period in which repayment occurs. Fully amortized deferred financing fees are removed from the balance sheet upon maturity or repayment of the underlying debt. Accumulated amortization of deferred financing fees was $2.3 million and $1.9 million as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Aggregate Maturities
As of June 30, 2024, aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the succeeding years are as follows:
Future Maturities
57,487
78,343
74,839
62,199
120,095
Fair Value
The fair value of the mortgage notes payable is valued using Level 3 inputs under the hierarchy established by GAAP and is calculated based on a discounted cash flow analysis, using interest rates based on management’s estimates of market interest rates on long-term debt with comparable terms whenever the interest rates on the mortgage notes payable are deemed not to be at market rates. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the fair value of the mortgage notes payable was $375.7 million and $349.1 million, respectively.
Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is not currently subject to any known material contingencies arising from its business operations, nor to any material known or threatened litigation other than as discussed below.
Office Leases
The Company has seven leases in place for office space and office equipment with payments ranging between $181 and $13,711 per month and lease terms expiring between November 2024 and December 2025. The Company recognizes right of use assets and related lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company estimated the value of the lease liabilities using discount rates ranging from 3.35% to 7.56%, equivalent to the rates we would pay on a secured borrowing with similar terms to the lease at the inception of the lease. Options to extend the lease are excluded in our minimum lease terms unless the option is reasonably certain to be exercised. During each of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s total lease cost was less than $0.1 million. The Company’s total lease cost during each of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $0.1 million. Minimum annual rental payments under these operating leases, reconciled to the lease liability included in our consolidated balance sheets, are as follows (in thousands):
127
212
Total lease payments
339
Less: imputed interest
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Litigation
On July 2, 2021, the Company filed a complaint against First Sabrepoint Capital Management, LP, Sabrepoint Capital Partners, LP, Sabrepoint Capital Participation, LP, George Baxter, and Donald Marchiony (collectively, “Sabrepoint”) in the Civil District Courts of Dallas County, Texas seeking relief for their role, as alleged in the complaint, in the previously disclosed 2018 “short and distort” scheme to profit from an artificial decline in our stock price. Certain Sabrepoint defendants had prevailed previously on a motion to dismiss the case against them in the Rota Fortunae action in the United State District Court for the District of Colorado (where the state case had been removed) solely on personal jurisdiction grounds. On December 17, 2021, the Company's claims against Sabrepoint in Texas were dismissed by the trial court, which granted (i) Sabrepoint's motion for summary judgment on collateral estoppel grounds, and (ii) motion to dismiss pursuant to the Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TCPA”). On March 21, 2022, after the Company filed a notice signaling an intent to appeal both orders, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas (the “Court of Appeals”) entered an order declaring the trial court's TCPA order “VOID because the motion was denied by operation of law….” Accordingly, the Company narrowed its appeal to the trial court's grant of summary judgment. On January 26, 2022, Sabrepoint filed a motion for attorney's fees relating to the defense of that action. The trial court granted the motion for certain fees claimed by Sabrepoint as relating to its pursuit of its TCPA motion, but as noted above, the Court of Appeals subsequently overturned the TCPA order that formed the basis of Sabrepoint’s fee request, mooting the motion and the Court’s order on the same. On June 30, 2023, the Court of Appeals granted the Company’s appeal, determining that the Company’s claims against Sabrepoint are not barred, reversing the trial court and remanding the case for further proceedings on the merits. On October 13, 2023, Sabrepoint filed a Petition for Review with the Texas Supreme Court, requesting the court to review the Court of Appeals’ decision. The Company filed a response to the Sabrepoint Petition for Review with the Texas Supreme Court on December 27, 2023, and Sabrepoint filed a reply in support of its petition on January 25, 2024. Sabrepoint's appeal is now fully briefed and pending a decision by the court. The Company remains confident that it will ultimately be permitted to proceed with its claims against Sabrepoint.
Repurchase Options
For certain of the Company’s acquisitions, the seller retains the option to repurchase the property at a future date for a price, which is calculated based on an appreciation factor over the original purchase price plus the value of improvements on the property, that, at the time of the acquisition, the Company expected would be at or above the property’s fair market value at the exercise date. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had an approximate aggregate net book value of $5.1 million related to assets with unexercised repurchase options. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had received payments totaling $3.5 million related to an exercised repurchase option on a property. Effective March 1, 2024, the repurchase option and the lease agreement were terminated by mutual agreement, whereby the Company received a lease termination fee of $0.8 million which was recorded within rental income and retained approximately $1.2 million which was recorded in income from forfeited deposits during the six months ended June 30, 2024.
Employee Retirement Plan
Effective February 1, 2022, the Company amended the Murray Wise Associates 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust to make it available to all eligible employees of the Company under revised Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, LP 401(k) Plan (the “FPI 401(k) Plan”). The FPI 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan for substantially all employees. The Company has elected a “safe harbor” plan in which the Company plans to make contributions which are determined and authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) each plan year. As is customary, the Company retains the right to amend the FPI 401(k) Plan at its discretion. The Company had an accrued liability for safe harbor contributions of approximately $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests
Non-controlling Interest in Operating Partnership
FPI consolidates the Operating Partnership. As of each of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, FPI owned 97.6% of the outstanding interests in the Operating Partnership, and the remaining 2.4% of the outstanding interests were held in
21
the form of Common units and comprised non-controlling interests in the Operating Partnership on the consolidated balance sheets. The non-controlling interests in the Operating Partnership consist of both the Common units and the Series A preferred units held by third parties.
Common Units in Operating Partnership, OP Units
On or after the 12-month anniversary of becoming a holder of Common units, unless the terms of an agreement with such Common unitholder dictate otherwise, each limited partner, other than the Company, has the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), to tender for redemption all or a portion of such Common units in exchange for cash, or in the Company’s sole discretion, for shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. If cash is paid in satisfaction of a redemption request, the amount will be equal to the number of tendered units multiplied by the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of the redemption notice (determined in accordance with, and subject to adjustment under, the terms of the Partnership Agreement). Any redemption request must be satisfied by the Company on or before the close of business on the tenth business day after the Company receives a notice of redemption. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, there were no redemptions of Common units. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company redeemed 34,000 Common units in exchange for cash of approximately $0.4 million. There were approximately 1.2 million outstanding Common units eligible to be tendered for redemption as of each of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
If the Company gives the limited partners notice of its intention to make an extraordinary distribution of cash or property to its stockholders or effect a merger, a sale of all or substantially all of its assets or any other similar extraordinary transaction, each limited partner may exercise its right to tender its Common units for redemption, regardless of the length of time such limited partner has held its Common units.
Regardless of the rights described above, the Operating Partnership will not have an obligation to issue cash to a unitholder upon a redemption request if the Company elects to redeem Common units for shares of common stock. When a Common unit is redeemed, non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership is reduced, and stockholders’ equity is increased.
The Operating Partnership intends to continue to make distributions on each Common unit in the same amount as those paid on each share of FPI’s common stock, with the distributions on the Common units held by FPI being utilized to pay dividends to FPI’s common stockholders.
Pursuant to the consolidation accounting standard with respect to the accounting and reporting for non-controlling interest changes and changes in ownership interest of a subsidiary, changes in the parent’s ownership interest when the parent retains controlling interest in the subsidiary should be accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the non-controlling interest shall be adjusted to reflect the change in its ownership interest in the subsidiary, with the offset to equity attributable to the parent. Changes in the ownership percentages between the Company’s stockholders’ equity and non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership resulted in a decrease to the non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership by less than $0.1 million during each of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, with the corresponding offsets to additional paid-in capital.
Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests in Operating Partnership, Series A Preferred Units
On March 2, 2016, the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment”) to the Partnership Agreement in order to provide for the issuance, and the designation of the terms and conditions, of the Series A preferred units. Pursuant to the Amendment, among other things, each Series A preferred unit has a $1,000 liquidation preference and is entitled to receive cumulative preferential cash distributions at a rate of 3.00% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference, which is payable annually in arrears on January 15 of each year or the next succeeding business day. The cash distributions are accrued ratably over the year and credited to redeemable non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership, preferred units on the balance sheet with the offset recorded to retained earnings. On March 2, 2016, 117,000 Series A preferred units were issued as partial consideration in the acquisition of a portfolio of Illinois farms. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution, the Series A
preferred units are entitled to a priority distribution ahead of Common units in an amount equal to the liquidation preference plus an amount equal to all distributions accumulated and unpaid to the date of such cash distribution. On May 19, 2022, the Company redeemed 5,000 Series A preferred units for $5.0 million plus accrued distributions for an aggregate of $5.1 million in cash. On September 1, 2022, the Company redeemed an additional 5,000 Series A preferred units for $5.0 million plus accrued distributions for an aggregate of $5.1 million in cash. On May 31, 2023, the Company redeemed 8,000 Series A preferred units for $8.0 million plus accrued distributions for an aggregate of $8.1 million in cash. As of June 30, 2024, 99,000 Series A preferred units were outstanding. The total liquidation value of such preferred units as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $100.5 million and $102.0 million, respectively, including accrued distributions.
On or after February 10, 2026 (the “Conversion Right Date”), holders of the Series A preferred units have the right to convert each Series A preferred unit into a number of Common units equal to (i) the $1,000 liquidation preference plus all accrued and unpaid distributions, divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average price per share of the Company’s common stock for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the applicable conversion date. All Common units received upon conversion may be immediately tendered for redemption for cash or, at the Company’s option, for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement. Prior to the Conversion Right Date, the Series A preferred units may not be tendered for redemption by the Holder.
On or after February 10, 2021, but prior to the Conversion Right Date, the Operating Partnership has the right to redeem some or all of the Series A preferred units, at any time and from time to time, for cash in an amount per unit equal to the $1,000 liquidation preference plus all accrued and unpaid distributions.
In the event of a Termination Transaction (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) prior to conversion, holders of the Series A preferred units generally have the right to receive the same consideration as holders of Common units and common stock, on an as-converted basis.
Holders of the Series A preferred units have no voting rights except with respect to (i) the issuance of partnership units of the Operating Partnership senior to the Series A preferred units as to the right to receive distributions and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Operating Partnership, (ii) the issuance of additional Series A preferred units and (iii) amendments to the Partnership Agreement that materially and adversely affect the rights or benefits of the holders of the Series A preferred units.
The Series A preferred units are accounted for as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheet as the units are convertible and redeemable for shares at a determinable price and date at the option of the holder upon the occurrence of an event not solely within the control of the Company.
The following table summarizes the changes in our redeemable non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Series A Preferred Units
Redeemable
Preferred
non-controlling
units
interests
107
110,210
Distribution paid to non-controlling interest
Accrued distributions to non-controlling interest
(8,000)
99
23
Distributions
The Board of Directors declared and paid the following distributions to common stockholders and holders of Common units for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
Fiscal Year
Declaration Date
Record Date
Payment Date
Distributionsper CommonShare/OP unit
October 24, 2023
January 2, 2024
January 16, 2024
0.0600
February 27, 2024
April 1, 2024
April 15, 2024
0.1200
October 24, 2022
January 2, 2023
January 17, 2023
February 21, 2023
April 3, 2023
April 17, 2023
In general, common stock cash dividends declared by the Company will be considered ordinary income to stockholders for income tax purposes. From time to time, a portion of the Company’s dividends may be characterized as qualified dividends, capital gains or return of capital.
In connection with the 3.00% cumulative preferential distribution on the Series A preferred units, the Company had accrued $1.5 million in distributions payable as of June 30, 2024. The distributions are payable annually in arrears on January 15 of each year.
Share Repurchase Program
On March 15, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a program to repurchase up to $25.0 million in shares of the Company’s common stock. On August 1, 2018, the Board of Directors increased the authority under the share repurchase program by an aggregate of $30.0 million. On November 7, 2019, the Board of Directors increased the authority under the program by an additional $50.0 million. On May 3, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a $75.0 million increase. On November 1, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a $40.0 million increase in the total authorization available under the program, increasing the total availability under the share repurchase program to approximately $85.0 million as of such date. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time, in amounts and prices as the Company deems appropriate. Repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, trading restrictions under the Company’s insider trading policy and other relevant factors. This share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock and may be modified or suspended at any time at the Company’s discretion. The Company funds repurchases under the program using cash on its balance sheet.
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased no shares of its common stock. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $83.3 million of capacity remaining under the stock repurchase plan.
Equity Incentive Plan
On May 7, 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved the Third Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “Plan”), which increased the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan to approximately 1.9 million shares. As of June 30, 2024, there were 0.2 million shares available for future grants under the Plan.
The Company may issue equity-based awards to officers, non-employee directors, employees, independent contractors and other eligible persons under the Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, share awards (including restricted stock and restricted stock units), stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance awards, annual incentive cash awards and other equity-based awards, including LTIP units, which are convertible on a one-for-one basis into Common units. The terms of each grant are determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors.
From time to time, the Company may award time-based and performance-based restricted shares of its common stock
under the Plan, as compensation to officers, employees, non-employee directors and non-employee consultants. The shares of restricted stock vest generally over a period of time and/or upon the achievement of certain performance conditions, as applicable, as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors at the date of grant. Performance-based restricted shares are based upon the Company’s total shareholder return measured on an absolute basis, and relative to an index, and are subject to continued employment. The number of shares of common stock that may be ultimately earned following the end of the cumulative performance period ranges from 0% to 150% of the target number of performance-based restricted shares granted. The Company recognizes compensation expense for awards issued to officers, employees and non-employee directors for restricted shares of common stock on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based upon the fair market value of the shares on the date of issuance, adjusted for forfeitures. The Company recognizes compensation expense for awards issued to non-employee consultants in the same period and in the same manner as if the Company paid cash for the underlying services.
A summary of the non-vested restricted shares as of June 30, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
Time-based
Performance-based
Weighted
Number of
average grant
(shares in thousands)
shares
date fair value
Unvested at December 31, 2022
260
10.88
Granted
10.90
Vested
(130)
10.16
Forfeited
Unvested at June 30, 2023
353
11.16
Unvested at December 31, 2023
347
11.15
177
11.25
39
7.36
11.28
Unvested at June 30, 2024
366
11.14
The grant-date fair values of performance-based restricted shares were based on specified absolute and relative total stockholder return goals measured over a three-year performance period. The Company used Monte Carlo simulations, which use a probabilistic approach for estimating the fair values of the awards. Expected volatilities were derived from the volatility of the historical prices of the Company and the comparative index. The risk-free interest rate was determined using the yield available for zero-coupon U.S. government securities with remaining terms corresponding to the service periods of the performance-based restricted shares. A dividend yield was based on historical dividend yields for the Company and the comparative index.
The Company recognized stock-based compensation and incentive expense related to restricted stock awards of $0.5 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized stock-based compensation and incentive expense related to restricted stock awards of $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were $3.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested stock awards, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.
At-the-Market Offering Program
On May 6, 2022, the Company entered into equity distribution agreements under which the Company issued and sold from time to time, through sales agents, shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million (the “ATM Program”). The ATM Program expired on April 9, 2024 in connection with the expiration of the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-254834) (the “2021 Shelf Registration Statement”) as described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. On May 8, 2024, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-279210), which was declared effective by the SEC on May 17, 2024 (the “2024 Shelf Registration Statement”), pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell additional equity or debt securities. The Company does not currently have an at-the-market offering program, but may enter into a new equity distribution agreement in the future pursuant to which sales may be made under the 2024 Shelf Registration Statement.
25
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs include incremental direct costs incurred by the Company in connection with proposed or actual offerings of securities. At the completion of a securities offering, the deferred offering costs are charged ratably as a reduction of the gross proceeds of equity as stock is issued. If an offering is abandoned, the previously deferred offering costs will be charged to operations in the period in which the offering is abandoned. The Company incurred $0.0 million and less than $0.1 million in offering costs during each of three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $0.0 million, for each period, in deferred offering costs, net of amortization, related to regulatory, legal, accounting and professional service costs associated with proposed or completed offerings of securities.
Earnings (Loss) per Share
The computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share is shown below. Diluted earnings (loss) per share includes the impact of unvested restricted shares and Series A preferred units, if dilutive.
Numerator for net income per share - basic:
Numerator for net income per share - diluted:
683
Numerator for net income (loss) per share - diluted:
7,684
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic
Unvested time-based restricted shares
Unvested performance-based restricted shares
Redeemable non-controlling interest
8,252
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted (1)
Income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders - basic
Income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders - diluted
Numerator:
Unvested shares of the Company’s restricted common stock are considered participating securities, which requires the use of the two-class method for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Accordingly, distributed and undistributed earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares (participating securities) may be subtracted, as applicable, from net income or loss attributable to common stockholders utilized in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.
The outstanding Series A preferred units are non-participating securities and thus are included in the computation of diluted earnings per share on an as-if-converted basis if they are dilutive. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024
26
and the six months ended June 30, 2023, these shares were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they would have been anti-dilutive.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, diluted weighted average common shares do not include the impact of unvested compensation-related shares as they would have been anti-dilutive.
Outstanding Equity Awards and Units
The following equity awards and units were outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
47,801
47,656
Common Units
1,203
Unvested Restricted Stock Awards
49,370
49,206
Note 10—Hedge Accounting
Cash Flow Hedging Strategy
The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk, by managing the amount, sources, duration and interest rate exposure of its financing sources. The Company may also use interest rate derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company was a party to one interest rate swap, designated as a hedging instrument, to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to adverse interest rate movements.
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the entire change in the fair value of the Company’s designated cash flow hedges is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
On March 26, 2020, the Company terminated its existing swap agreement and entered into a new interest rate swap agreement to obtain a more favorable interest rate and to manage interest rate risk exposure, which was effective April 1, 2020. An interest rate swap agreement utilized by the Company effectively modified the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk by converting the Company’s floating-rate debt to a fixed rate basis for the next six years on 50% of the outstanding amount to Rabobank at the time of the agreement, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest expense. This agreement involves the receipt of floating rate amounts in exchange for fixed rate interest payments over the life of the agreement without an exchange of the underlying principal amount. The fair value of the de-designated swap was $2.6 million on the termination date. The Company amortized the de-designated swap over the original term utilizing a forward curve analysis of determining monthly amortization out of Other Comprehensive Income through the original termination date (March 1, 2023). During the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, amortization was $0.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively. Amortization for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $0.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The Company’s $2.6 million termination fee was rolled into the new swap and will be paid through March 1, 2026. Termination fees paid during each of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $0.1 million. Termination fees paid during each of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were $0.2 million.
The Company determines the hedge effectiveness of its interest rate swaps at inception by applying a quantitative evaluation of effectiveness using regression analysis. On an ongoing basis the Company applies an initial qualitative assessment of on-going effectiveness and reviews hedge effectiveness through assessing the hedge relationship by comparing the current terms of the swap and the associated debt to ensure they continue to coincide through the continued ability of the Counterparty to the swap to honor its obligations under the swap contract. The qualitative assessment may indicate that the hedge relationship is not highly effective, the Company would then perform a quantitative evaluation using regression analysis. The Company concluded the hedge was highly effective at inception and remained highly effective as of June 30, 2024.
As of June 30, 2024, the total notional amount of the Company’s receive-variable/pay-fixed interest rate swap was $33.2 million.
The fair value of the Company’s derivative instrument on a recurring basis is set out below:
Instrument
Balance sheet location
Level 2 Fair Value
Interest rate swap
The effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 is set out below:
Cash flow hedging relationships
Location of Gain (Loss) reclassified from Accumulated OCI into income
Interest rate contracts
The net change associated with current period hedging transactions was $0.0 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and ($0.2) million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The amortization of frozen Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income was $0.0 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and $0.0 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The fair values of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements are determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts, which is considered a Level 2 measurement under the fair value hierarchy. Level 2 is defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2024. The variable cash receipts are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.
The following table outlines the movements in the other comprehensive income account as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Beginning accumulated derivative instrument gain or loss
(813)
Amortization of frozen AOCI on de-designated hedge
Difference between a change in fair value of excluded components
Closing accumulated derivative instrument gain or loss
Note 11—Income Taxes
The TRS income (loss) before provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
June 30, 2023
United States
(300)
(975)
(1,272)
(891)
International
The federal and state income tax provision (benefit) is summarized as follows:
Current:
Federal
State
Total Current Tax (Benefit) Expense
Deferred:
Total Tax (Benefit) Expense
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (b) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. The tax effects of significant items comprising the TRS’s deferred taxes as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss
2,320
1,996
Stock Compensation
Deferred Revenue
Charitable Contributions
Total deferred tax assets
2,385
2,008
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets
(19)
Intangible Assets
(201)
(181)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(220)
(196)
Valuation Allowance
(2,223)
(1,851)
Net deferred taxes
(58)
(39)
ASC 740 requires that the tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences and credit carryforwards be recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses that realization is “more likely than not.” Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on the TRS’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. Because of the TRS’s recent history of operating losses, and management’s inability to accurately project future taxable income, management believes that recognition of the deferred tax assets arising from the above-mentioned future tax benefits is currently not likely to be realized and, accordingly, has provided a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance increased by $0.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024. The amount of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets associated with excess tax deduction from stock-based incentive arrangements that is allocated to contributed capital if the future tax benefits are subsequently recognized is $0.0 million.
Net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards as of June 30, 2024 are as follows:
Expiration Year
Net operating losses, federal (Post-December 31, 2017)
8,869
Does not expire
Net operating losses, state
6,568
Various
The effective tax rate of the TRS’s provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate as follows:
Tax (Benefit) Expense
($ in thousands
Statutory Rate
(63)
(223)
(267)
(205)
State Tax
(21)
(26)
(89)
83
253
374
239
Tax Rate
21.00
23.00
7.00
2.67
2.36
(27.67)
(26.08)
(29.42)
(26.82)
0.33
(0.41)
(1.42)
(1.46)
Note 12—Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements through the day the financial statements were issued.
On July 23, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock and Common unit payable on October 15, 2024 to stockholders and unitholders of record as of October 1, 2024.
Borrowings on Credit Facilities
Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company made borrowings of $3.0 million on the Company’s lines of credit.
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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, as well as the information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 29, 2024, which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. References to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Farmland Partners Inc. (“FPI”), a Maryland corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), of which FPI is the sole member of the sole general partner.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
We make statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning pending acquisitions and dispositions, projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results, future stock repurchases and other transactions affecting our capitalization, our dividend policy, future economic performance, crop yields and prices and future rental rates for our properties, ongoing litigation, as well as statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. When we use the words “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” or similar expressions or their negatives, as well as statements in future tense, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, such forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events or guarantees of future performance, and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that might cause such a difference include the following: the ongoing war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and their impacts on our tenants’ businesses and the farm economy generally, changes in trade policies in the United States and other countries that import U.S. agricultural products, high inflation and elevated interest rates, the onset of an economic recession in the United States and other countries that impact the farm economy, extreme weather events, such as droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes or floods, the impact of future public health crises on our business and on the economy and capital markets generally, general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock, changes in our business strategy, availability, terms and deployment of capital, our ability to refinance existing indebtedness at or prior to maturity on favorable terms, or at all, availability of qualified personnel, changes in our industry or the general economy, the degree and nature of our competition, the outcomes of ongoing litigation, our ability to identify new acquisitions or dispositions and close on pending acquisitions or dispositions and the other factors described in the risk factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in other documents that we file from time to time with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law.
Overview and Background
Our primary strategic objective is to utilize our position as a leading institutional acquirer, owner and manager of high-quality farmland located in agricultural markets throughout North America to deliver strong risk adjusted returns to investors through a combination of cash dividends and asset appreciation. As of June 30, 2024, we owned farms with an aggregate of approximately 134,700 acres in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. In addition, as of June 30, 2024, we owned land and buildings for four agriculture equipment dealerships in Ohio leased to Ag Pro under the John Deere brand and served as property manager for approximately 45,400 acres, including farms in Iowa. As of June 30, 2024, approximately 70% of our portfolio (by value) was used to grow primary crops, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton, and approximately 30% was used to produce specialty crops, such as almonds, pistachios, citrus, strawberries, and edible beans. We believe our portfolio gives investors the economic benefit of increasing global food demand in the face of growing scarcity of high-quality farmland and will continue to reflect the approximate allocation of U.S. agricultural
output between primary crops and animal protein (whose production relies principally on primary crops as feed), on one hand, and specialty crops, on the other.
In addition, under the FPI Loan Program, we make loans to third-party farmers (both tenant and non-tenant) to provide financing for property acquisitions, working capital requirements, operational farming activities, farming infrastructure projects and for other farming and agricultural real estate related projects.
FPI was incorporated in Maryland on September 27, 2013, and is the sole member of the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, which is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed on September 27, 2013. All of FPI’s assets are held by, and its operations are primarily conducted through, the Operating Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2024, FPI owned 97.6% of the Common units and none of the Series A preferred units. See “Note 9—Stockholders’ Equity and Non-controlling Interests” within the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the non-controlling interests.
FPI has elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with its short taxable year ended December 31, 2014.
The following table sets forth our ownership of acreage by region as of June 30, 2024:
Region (1)
Owned Acres
Managed Acres
Total Acres
Corn Belt (2)
46,414
26,569
72,983
26,427
8,763
35,190
21,831
4,352
26,183
28,825
5,693
34,518
11,189
134,686
45,377
180,063
We intend to continue acquiring additional farmland that we believe provides opportunities for risk-adjusted investment returns consistent with our primary strategic objective. We also intend to continue to selectively dispose of assets when we believe we can redeploy the proceeds from such sales in a manner that enhances stockholder returns. We also may acquire, and make loans secured by mortgages on, properties related to farming, such as grain storage facilities, grain elevators, feedlots, processing plants and distribution centers, as well as livestock farms or ranches. In addition, we provide volume purchasing services to our tenants, engage directly in farming, and provide property management, auction, and brokerage services through FPI Agribusiness Inc., our taxable REIT subsidiary (the “TRS” or “FPI Agribusiness”). As of June 30, 2024, the TRS directly operated 2,103 acres of farmland located in California.
Our principal source of revenue is rent from tenants that conduct farming operations on our farmland. The majority of the leases that are in place as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have fixed rent payments. Some of our leases have variable rents based on the revenue generated by our farm-operator tenants. We believe that this mix of fixed and variable rents will help insulate us from the variability of farming operations and reduce our credit-risk exposure to farm-operator tenants while making us an attractive landlord in certain regions where variable leases are customary. However, we may be exposed to tenant credit risk and farming operation risks, particularly with respect to leases that do not require advance payment of 100% of the fixed rent, variable rent arrangements and leases with terms greater than one year.
In addition, for leases that provide for variable rent payments, we may recognize revenue up to the amount of the crop insurance minimum. The excess above crop insurance minimums cannot be recognized as revenue until the tenant enters into a contract to sell their crop. Generally, we expect tenants to enter into contracts to sell their crop following the harvest of the crop.
Impact of the War in Ukraine
Food prices were near record highs even before the invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and the Russian Federation represent large portions of global trade in a variety of agricultural products (e.g., 34% of global wheat exports, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute). The disruption in farming operations in Ukraine, and trade from the Black Sea region has stressed the food supply for many countries that depend on imports of agricultural products from the region, such as Egypt (wheat for food products) and China (corn for livestock).
The Russian Federation is also a major exporter of fertilizers and trade restrictions have hampered the flow of fertilizers to countries dependent on imports from the Black Sea region. United States farmers, including our tenants, however, generally source fertilizers from the United States and Canada.
Inflation and Interest Rates
Most of our farming leases have lease terms of three years for row crops and up to seven years for permanent crops, pursuant to which each tenant is responsible for substantially all of the operating expenses related to the property, including maintenance, water usage and insurance. As a result, we believe that the effect on us of inflationary increases in operating expenses are borne largely by our tenants under the terms of their leases. We believe that inflationary increases in farmer profitability will continue to impact lease renegotiations upon renewals, as we experienced in the most recent renewal cycle in late 2023. Furthermore, high levels of inflation have prompted the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve (the “Federal Reserve”) to increase the federal funds rate, which has led to a significant increase in market short- and long-term interest rates since the beginning of 2022. This increase in rates has significantly increased the cost of our floating rate debt and has also significantly increased the cost of certain of our MetLife debt with interest rates that have been reset since the beginning of 2022. The Federal Reserve may continue this policy of maintaining elevated rates, which would further increase interest expense for many businesses, including the Company.
Factors That May Influence Future Results of Operations and Farmland Values
The principal factors affecting our operating results and the value of our farmland include long-term global demand for food relative to the global supply of food; farmland fundamentals and economic conditions in the markets in which we own farmland; and our ability to increase or maintain rental revenues while controlling expenses. We are currently in an environment of appreciating land values, driven by, among other things, inflation, strong commodity prices (further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine) and an outlook for high levels of farmer profitability. Sustained high interest rates can serve as a counter-balancing external factor to this favorable environment. Each year additional farmland in various portions of the world, including the United States, is repurposed for commercial development, thus decreasing the land acreage available for production of grains, oil seeds, permanent and specialty crops necessary to feed the world’s growing population. Although farmland prices may show a decline from time to time, we believe that any reduction in U.S. farmland values overall is likely to be short-lived as global demand for food and agricultural commodities typically exceeds global supply and quality farmland becomes scarcer.
Food Demand
We expect that global demand for food, driven primarily by significant increases in the gross domestic product (“GDP”) per capita and global population, will continue to be the key driver of farmland values. We expect that global demand for most crops will continue to keep pace with global population growth. We also believe that growth in global GDP per capita, particularly in developing nations, will contribute significantly to increasing demand for primary crops. As global GDP per capita increases, the composition of daily caloric intake is expected to shift away from the direct consumption of primary crops toward more fruits, vegetables and animal-based proteins, which is expected to result in increased demand for primary crops as feed for livestock. We believe that once individuals increase consumption of higher quality food, they will strongly resist returning to their former dietary habits, resulting in greater inelasticity in the demand for food. We anticipate these factors will lead to either higher crop prices and/or higher yields and, therefore, higher rental rates on our farmland, as well as sustained growth in farmland values over the long term.
In addition, global demand for corn and soybeans as inputs in the production of biofuels such as ethanol and soy-based diesel also could impact the prices of corn and soybeans, which, in the long term, could impact our rental revenues and our results of operations. However, we believe that growth in GDP per capita and global population will be more significant drivers of global demand for primary crops over the long term.
Despite advances in income, according to “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023,” a report by the UN FAO, 2.4 billion people were facing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022. The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted supply chains and affected the prices of grain, fertilizer, and energy, further stressing food supplies for developing countries that are dependent on food imports.
Farmland Supply
According to the World Bank Group arable land per capita has decreased by approximately 50% from 1961 to 2021, further exacerbated by international conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine. Typically, additions to cropland are in areas of marginal productivity, while cropland loss, driven by urban development, tends to affect primarily highly productive areas. According to a study published in 2017 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, urban expansion is expected to take place on cropland that is 1.77 times more productive than the global average. The global supply of food is also impacted by the productivity per acre of arable land. Historically, productivity gains (measured by average crop yields) have been driven by advances in seed technology, farm equipment, irrigation techniques, and improvements in soil health, chemical nutrients and pest control. On the other hand, we expect the shortage of water in many irrigated growing regions in the United States and around the globe, often as a result of new water restrictions imposed by laws or regulations, to lead to decreased productivity on those acres.
Conditions in Our Existing Markets
Our portfolio is broadly diversified across numerous farmland markets and crop types. Across all regions, farmland acquisitions continue to be dominated by buyers who are existing farm owners and operators, whereas institutional investors constitute a small fraction of the industry (less than 5% of total farmland in the United States). We generally see firm demand for high quality properties across all regions and crop types.
Farmland values are typically very stable, often showing modest increases even in years of commodity price weakness. We expect this trend to continue, with modest but consistent annual increases that compound into significant appreciation in the long term. Under certain market conditions, as in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with strong commodity prices and farmer profitability, there are periods of accelerating appreciation in farmland values. Leases renegotiated under the robust market conditions experienced in 2021, 2022, and 2023 reflected significant rent increases. While the pace of appreciation and transaction volume slowed in 2023 and early 2024, these metrics remain strong relative to long-term trends.
We believe quality farmland in the United States has a near-zero vacancy rate as a result of the supply and demand fundamentals discussed above. We believe that due to the relatively high fixed costs associated with farming operations (including equipment, labor and knowledge), many farm operators choose to rent additional acres of farmland when it becomes available in order to allocate their fixed costs over additional acres. Our view is that rental rates for farmland are a function of farmland operators’ view of the long-term profitability of farmland, and that many farm operators will compete for farmland even during periods of decreased profitability due to the scarcity of farmland available to rent. Furthermore, because it is generally customary in the industry to provide the existing tenant with the opportunity to re-lease the land at the end of each lease term, we believe that many farm operators will rent additional land that becomes available in order to control the ability to farm that land in future periods. As a result, in our experience, many farm operators will aggressively pursue rental opportunities in their operable geographic area, even when the farmer anticipates lower profits returns or even short-term losses. As we move into an environment with lower grain prices, combined with higher interest rates, we are monitoring the financial health and liquidity of our tenants.
Lease Expirations
Farm leases are generally one to three years in duration. As of June 30, 2024, our portfolio had the following lease expirations as a percentage of approximate acres leased and annual minimum fixed rents:
Approximate Acres
% of ApproximateAcres
Annual FixedRents
% of AnnualFixed Rents
41,941
31.1
11,651
32.6
21,381
15.9
5,141
14.4
43,809
32.5
10,366
29.0
14,898
11.1
4,779
13.4
91
0.1
59
0.2
12,566
9.3
3,728
10.4
35,724
Rental Revenues
Our revenues are primarily generated from renting farmland to operators of farming businesses. Our leases generally have terms ranging from one to three years, with some extending up to 40 years (e.g., renewable energy leases). Although the majority of our leases do not provide the tenant with a contractual right to renew the lease upon its expiration, we believe it is customary to provide the existing tenant with the opportunity to renew the lease, subject to any increase in the rental rate that we may establish. If the tenant elects not to renew the lease at the end of the lease term, the land will be offered to a new tenant. As discussed above, the vacancy rate for quality U.S. farmland is near-zero and there is often competition among prospective tenants for quality farmland; accordingly, we do not believe that re-leasing farmland upon the expiration of existing leases is a significant risk for the Company.
The leases for the majority of the row-crop properties in our portfolio provide that tenants pay us, typically, 50% of their fixed farm rent in advance of each spring planting season. As a result, we collect a significant portion of total annual rents in the first calendar quarter of each year, which we believe mitigates the tenant credit risk associated with the variability of farming operations that could be adversely impacted by poor crop yields, weather conditions, mismanagement, undercapitalization or other factors affecting our tenants. Tenant credit risk is further mitigated by the farming industry practice of purchasing crop insurance in almost every circumstance because it is required by lenders who provide working capital financing to our tenants and due to requirements in our leases. In certain cases, the Company perfects its security interest in the crop insurance proceeds and the underlying growing crops using practices applicable in the state where the farm is located. Prior to acquiring farmland property, we take into consideration the competitiveness of the local farm-operator tenant environment in order to enhance our ability to quickly replace a tenant that is unwilling to renew a lease or is unable to pay a rent payment when it is due. Many of our leases provide for the reimbursement by the tenant of the property’s real estate taxes that we pay in connection with the farms they rent from us.
Expenses
Substantially all of our farm leases are structured in such a way that we are responsible for major maintenance expenses, certain liability and casualty insurance and taxes (which are sometimes reimbursed to us by our tenants), while our tenant is responsible for operating expenses, minor maintenance, water usage and all of the additional input costs related to farming operations on the property, such as seed, fertilizer, labor and fuel. We expect leases for farmland we acquire in the future will contain similar features related to expenses. As the owner of the land, we generally only bear costs related to major capital improvements permanently attached to the property, such as irrigation systems, drainage tile, grain storage facilities, permanent plantings or other physical structures customary for farms. In cases where capital expenditures are necessary, we typically seek to offset, over a period of multiple years, the costs of such capital expenditures by increasing rental rates.
We incur costs associated with running a public company, including, among others, costs associated with our personnel, Board of Directors, compliance, legal and accounting, due diligence and acquisitions (including, among others, travel expenses and consulting fees). Inflation in personnel costs, which is impacting many United States businesses, is also likely to impact our expenses.
We also incur costs associated with managing farmland assets. The management of our farmland, generally, has significant economies of scale, as farmland generally has minimal physical structures that require routine inspection and maintenance, and our leases, generally, are structured to require the tenant to pay many of the operating expenses associated with the property. We do not expect the expenses associated with managing our portfolio of farmland to increase significantly as the number of farm properties we own increases over time.
Crop Prices
While many people assume that short-term crop prices have a great impact on farm values, we believe that long-term farmer profitability and revenue per acre, expressed as crop prices multiplied by crop yield, is a much more significant driver of farm value. Crop yield trends in corn and soybeans have been steadily increasing over the last thirty years. After yields for the 2022/2023 marketing year (September 2022 to August 2023) decreased slightly for both corn and soybeans compared to the previous year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects yields to increase slightly for the 2023/2024 marketing year (September 2023 to August 2024). Short-term crop price changes have had little effect historically on farmland values. They also have a limited impact on our rental revenue, as most of our leases provide for fixed farm rents, a common approach in agricultural markets, especially with respect to row crops. Fixed farm rent significantly simplifies the administrative requirements for the landlord and the tenant, as farmers benefit from the fundamental revenue hedging that occurs when large crop yields mitigate the effect of lower crop prices. Similarly, lower crop yields have a tendency to trigger higher crop prices and help increase revenue even when confronted by lower crop yields. Such hedging effect also limits the impact of short-term crop price changes on revenues generated by leases with a variable rent component based on farm revenues. Further risk mitigation is available to tenants, and indirectly to us, via crop insurance and hedging programs implemented by tenants. Our TRS also takes advantage of these risk mitigation programs and strategies with respect to the properties it directly operates.
Crop prices are affected by many factors that can differ on a yearly basis. Weather conditions and crop diseases can create a significant risk of price volatility. Changes in government regulations and policy, fluctuations in global prosperity, fluctuations in foreign trade and export markets and eruptions of military conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, or civil unrest also impact crop prices.
Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve has engaged in a series of significant increases in the federal funds rate, which is the rate the Federal Reserve charges member banks for overnight funds. These increases affect all borrowing rates, and for variable rate debt and debt with rates that reset periodically, such increases have a direct and relatively immediate impact.
As of June 30, 2024, $136.0 million of our outstanding indebtedness was subject to interest rates that reset before maturity (excluding our floating rate debt). As of January 1, 2024, $43.9 million was subject to rate resets in 2024, and $16.8 million has been reset as of June 30, 2024. The remaining $27.1 million will be reset in October and December 2024.
At June 30, 2024, $110.4 million, or 28.1%, of our debt had variable interest rates, however, as stated in “Note 10—Hedge Accounting” to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has an interest rate swap with Rabobank for $33.2 million, which reduces floating rate exposure to $77.2 million. After adjusting the $33.2 million of swapped Rabobank debt as fixed rate debt, the ratio of floating rate debt to total debt decreased to 19.6%. Assuming no increase in the level of our variable rate debt spreads, if SOFR increased by 1.0%, our cash flow would decrease by approximately $0.8 million per year, and if SOFR decreased by 1.0%, our cash flow would increase approximately $0.8 million per year.
We expect that future changes in interest rates will impact our overall operating performance by, among other things, affecting our borrowing costs and borrowing costs of our tenants. While we may seek to manage our exposure to future changes in rates through interest rate swap agreements or interest rate caps, portions of our overall outstanding debt will likely remain at floating rates or subject to interest rates that reset periodically. In addition, a sustained material increase in interest rates may cause farmland prices to decline if the rise in real interest rates (nominal interest rates minus the
inflation rate) is not accompanied by rises in the general levels of inflation. However, our business model anticipates that over time the value of our farmland will increase, as it has in the past, at a rate that is equal to or greater than the rate of inflation, which may in part offset the impact of rising interest rates on the value of our farmland, but there can be no guarantee that this appreciation will occur to the extent that we anticipate or at all.
International Trade
After a 34% increase in exports of corn for the 2023/2024 marketing year (September 2023 to August 2024), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”) estimates corn exports will remain flat for the 2024/2025 marketing year (September 2024 to August 2025). After a 15% decrease in exports of soybeans for the 2022/2023 marketing year, the USDA estimates soybean exports will be up 7% for the 2024/2025 marketing year, due to less competition from South American production.
According to the USDA Outlook for Agricultural Trade, the top three export countries from the United States were China, Mexico, and Canada. Exports to China for fiscal year 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) were $33.7 billion, down 7% from 2022. Exports to Canada were $27.9 billion, down 3% from 2022. Exports to Mexico were $28.2 billion, up 1% from 2022. Exports to China for fiscal year 2024 are forecast to decrease to $27.7 billion, while exports to Mexico and Canada are expected to increase slightly to $28.7 billion and $28.4 billion, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Except as set forth in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there have been no changes to our critical accounting policies disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
New or Revised Accounting Standards
For a summary of the new or revised accounting standards, please refer to “Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policies” within the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2024 to the three months ended June 30, 2023
For the three months ended June 30,
$ Change
% Change
(681)
(6.7)
420
81.6
122
(139)
(1.2)
(777)
(35.2)
(558)
(23.0)
(22.3)
833
28.7
126
44.8
NM
(622)
(7.0)
Other expense
(23)
(30.7)
(Income) from equity method investment
(13)
260.0
11,070
(595)
(10.2)
10,439
(9,956)
(9,951)
NM=Not Meaningful
Our net income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was affected partially by acquisitions and dispositions that occurred since the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as well as severance expense of $1.4 million, partially offset by higher crop sales, lower cost of goods sold and lower interest expense.
Rental income decreased $0.7 million, or 6.7%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, resulting primarily from dispositions that occurred in 2023.
Crop sales totaled $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was the result of a higher volume of citrus sales on our directly operated properties.
Other revenue increased $0.1 million, or 14.4%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase in interest income of $0.2 million as a result of more outstanding loans under the FPI Loan Program, partially offset by decrease of $0.1 million in auction and brokerage income and crop insurance proceeds.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization decreased $0.8 million, or 35.2%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was a result of asset dispositions in 2023 and more assets becoming fully depreciated, partially offset by depreciable assets being placed into service.
Property operating expenses decreased $0.6 million, or 23.0%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, resulting from lower tax expenses, insurance and repairs.
Cost of goods sold totaled $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was the result of a lower volume of crop sold on walnut farms, partially offset by an increase in citrus in the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
General and administrative expenses increased $0.8 million, or 28.7%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was driven by a one-time severance expense of $1.4 million, partially offset by lower compensation and travel expense. The severance expense was in connection with the previously announced departure of the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer as part of the Company's cost-cutting initiative.
Legal and accounting expenses increased $0.1 million, or 44.8%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Other operating expenses were negligible during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and remained relatively consistent compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Other expense remained relatively flat at $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
Income from equity method investment was negligible during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and remained relatively consistent compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets, net changed from gain on disposition of assets of $11.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to loss on disposition of assets of $0.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The loss on sale of assets during the three months ended June 30, 2024 was attributable to dispositions of fixed assets while the gain on sale of assets during the three months ended June 30, 2023 was attributable to dispositions of 17 properties, as well as the disposal of fixed assets.
Interest expense decreased $0.6 million, or 10.2%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was the result of lower outstanding debt, partially offset by higher interest rates.
Income tax expense was negligible during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and remained relatively consistent compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2024 to the six months ended June 30, 2023
For the six months ended June 30,
(1,200)
(5.7)
720
82.3
(341)
(14.0)
(821)
(3.4)
(1,090)
(27.2)
(942)
(20.4)
(624)
(32.4)
92.9
854
15.5
214
40.7
(40)
(52.6)
(1,615)
(9.7)
(132)
(117)
12,982
(483)
(4.5)
11,045
Net income (loss) before income tax expense
(10,251)
Income tax expense
38.5
(10,256)
Our net income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was affected partially by acquisitions and dispositions that occurred since the quarter ended June 30, 2023, as well as severance expense of $1.4 million, partially offset by higher crop sales, lower cost of goods sold, lower interest expense and income from forfeited deposits.
Rental income decreased $1.2 million, or 5.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, resulting primarily from dispositions that occurred in 2023.
Crop sales increased $0.7 million, or 82.3%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was the result of a higher volume of walnut and citrus sales on our directly operated properties.
Other revenue decreased $0.3 million, or 14.0%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease of $0.6 million in crop insurance proceeds and $0.1 million in auction and brokerage revenue, partially offset by an increase of $0.4 million in interest income.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization decreased $1.1 million, or 27.2%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was a result of asset dispositions in 2023 and more assets becoming fully depreciated, partially offset by depreciable assets being placed into service.
Property operating expenses decreased $0.9 million, or 20.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, resulting from lower tax expenses, insurance and repairs.
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Cost of goods sold decreased $0.6 million, or 32.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was the result of a lower impairment expense as well as the sale of blueberry farms that were previously directly operated.
Acquisition and due diligence costs were negligible during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and remained relatively consistent compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.
General and administrative expenses increased $0.9 million, or 15.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was driven by a one-time severance expense of $1.4 million, partially offset by lower compensation and travel expense. The severance expense was in connection with the previously announced departure of the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer as part of the Company's cost-cutting initiative.
Legal and accounting expenses increased $0.2 million, or 40.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Other operating expenses remained relatively flat at $0.0 million and $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Other (income) expense changed from other expense of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to other income of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. This change is primarily due to proceeds related to an easement, partially offset by a loss on debt modification due to the amendment of the Rutledge Facility.
(Income) loss from equity method investment changed from loss from equity method investment of less than $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to income from equity method investment of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets, net changed from gain on disposition of assets of $12.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to loss on disposition of assets of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The loss on sale of assets during the six months ended June 30, 2024 was attributable to dispositions of fixed assets while the gain on sale of assets during the six months ended June 30, 2023 was attributable to dispositions of 19 properties, as well as the disposal of fixed assets.
(Income) from forfeited deposits was $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $0.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, due to the termination of a repurchase agreement and the retention of $1.2 million in earnest money payments.
Interest expense decreased $0.5 million, or 4.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was the result of lower outstanding debt, partially offset by higher interest rates.
Income tax expense was negligible during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and remained relatively consistent compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay any outstanding borrowings, fund and maintain our assets and operations, acquire new properties, make distributions to our stockholders and unitholders, and fund other general business needs.
High levels of inflation prompted the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates which has resulted in, and may continue to result in, increased interest expense. We expect to meet our liquidity needs through cash on hand, undrawn availability under our lines of credit ($158.1 million in availability as of June 30, 2024), operating cash flows, borrowings, proceeds
41
from equity issuances and selective asset dispositions where such dispositions are deemed to be in the best interests of the Company.
On May 6, 2022, we entered into equity distribution agreements under which we issued and sold from time to time, through sales agents, shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $100.0 million in an at-the-market offering program (the “ATM Program”). The ATM Program was intended to provide cost-effective financing alternatives in the capital markets. The ATM Program expired on April 9, 2024 in connection with the expiration of the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-254834) (the “2021 Shelf Registration Statement”). On May 8, 2024, we filed a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-279210), which was declared effective by the SEC on May 17, 2024 (the “2024 Shelf Registration Statement”), pursuant to which we may issue and sell additional equity or debt securities. The Company does not currently have an at-the-market offering program, but may enter into a new equity distribution agreement in the future pursuant to which sales may be made under the 2024 Shelf Registration Statement.
Our ability to incur additional debt will depend on a number of factors, including our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered assets, compliance with the covenants under our existing debt agreements, borrowing restrictions that may be imposed by lenders and the conditions of debt markets.
When material debt repayments are due within the following 12 months, we work with current and new lenders and other potential sources of capital sufficiently in advance of the debt maturity to ensure that all of our obligations are satisfied in a timely manner. We have a history of being able to refinance or extend our debt obligations to manage our debt maturities. Our ability to access the equity capital markets will depend on a number of factors as well, including general market conditions. The Company has $25.0 million in debt maturities due within the next 12 months.
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we repurchased no shares of our common stock. We currently have authority to repurchase up to an aggregate of $83.3 million in additional shares of our common stock.
Consolidated Indebtedness
For further details relating to our consolidated indebtedness as of June 30, 2024, refer to “Note 7—Mortgage Notes, Line of Credit and Bonds Payable” included in the financial statement section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Sources and Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
As of June 30, 2024, we had $5.7 million of cash and cash equivalents compared to $11.2 million at June 30, 2023.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities decreased by $3.6 million primarily as a result of the following:
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Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) investing activities decreased by $55.7 million primarily as a result of the following:
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) financing activities increased by $56.0 million primarily as a result of the following:
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Funds from Operations (“FFO”) and Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”)
We calculate FFO in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or Nareit. Nareit defines FFO as net income (loss) (calculated in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or
43
losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, real estate related depreciation, depletion and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), impairment write-downs of depreciated property, and adjustments associated with impairment write-downs for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management presents FFO as a supplemental performance measure because it believes that FFO is beneficial to investors as a starting point in measuring our operational performance. Specifically, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from sales of depreciable operating properties, which do not relate to or are not indicative of operating performance, FFO provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. We believe that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs.
However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures necessary to maintain the operating performance of improvements on our properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. In addition, other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the Nareit definition as we do, and, accordingly, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs’ FFO. Accordingly, FFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income as a measure of our performance. FFO should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to pay dividends or service indebtedness. FFO also should not be used as a supplement to or substitute for cash flow from operating activities computed in accordance with GAAP.
We do not, however, believe that FFO is the only measure of our operating performance. Changes in GAAP accounting and reporting rules that were put in effect after the establishment of Nareit’s definition of FFO in 1999 result in the inclusion of a number of items in FFO that do not correlate with the sustainability of our operating performance. Therefore, in addition to FFO, we present AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted, both of which are non-GAAP measures. Management considers AFFO a useful supplemental performance metric for investors as it is more indicative of the Company’s operational performance than FFO. AFFO is not intended to represent cash flow or liquidity for the period and is only intended to provide an additional measure of our operating performance. Even AFFO, however, does not properly capture the timing of cash receipts, especially in connection with full-year rent payments under lease agreements entered into in connection with newly acquired farms. Management considers AFFO per share, fully diluted to be a supplemental metric to GAAP earnings per share. AFFO per share, fully diluted provides additional insight into how our operating performance could be allocated to potential shares outstanding at a specific point in time. Management believes that AFFO is a widely recognized measure of the operations of REITs, and presenting AFFO will enable investors to assess our performance in comparison to other REITs. However, other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted, and, accordingly, our AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted may not always be comparable to AFFO and AFFO per share amounts calculated by other REITs. AFFO and AFFO per share, fully diluted should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or earnings per share (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of financial performance or as a measure of our liquidity, nor are they indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions.
AFFO is calculated by adjusting FFO to exclude or include the income and expenses that we believe are not reflective of the sustainability of our ongoing operating performance, as further explained below:
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income (loss) to FFO, AFFO and net income (loss) available to common stockholders per share to AFFO per share, fully diluted, the most directly comparable GAAP equivalents, respectively, for the periods indicated below (unaudited):
(in thousands except per share amounts)
FFO (1)
(612)
(954)
2,363
727
Stock-based compensation and incentive
512
506
1,037
965
Deferred impact of interest rate swap terminations
Real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs
Distributions on Preferred units and stock
Severance expense
AFFO (1)
530
(1,131)
3,314
419
AFFO per diluted weighted average share data:
AFFO weighted average common shares
49,379
52,454
49,325
54,002
Income available to redeemable non-controlling interest and non-controlling interest in operating partnership
0.02
0.01
0.04
0.03
0.07
Impairment of assets
0.00
(Gain) on disposition of assets, net
(0.21)
(0.24)
(0.02)
(0.01)
(0.03)
AFFO per diluted weighted average share (1)
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of AFFO share information to basic weighted average common shares outstanding, the most directly comparable GAAP equivalent, for the periods indicated below (unaudited):
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
Weighted average OP units on an as-if-converted basis
1,237
Weighted average time-based unvested restricted stock
357
359
340
Weighted average performance-based unvested restricted stock
EBITDAre
The Company calculates Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization for real estate (“EBITDAre”) in accordance with the standards established by Nareit in its September 2017 White Paper. Nareit defines EBITDAre as net income (calculated in accordance with GAAP) excluding interest expense, income tax, depreciation and amortization, gains or losses on disposition of depreciated property (including gains or losses on change of control), impairment write-downs of depreciated property and of investments in unconsolidated affiliates caused by a decrease in value of depreciated property in the affiliate, and adjustments to reflect the entity’s pro rata share of EBITDAre of unconsolidated affiliates. EBITDAre is a key financial measure used to evaluate the Company’s operating performance but should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, cash flows from operating activities or net income, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that EBITDAre is a useful performance measure commonly reported and will be widely used by analysts and investors in the Company’s industry. However, while EBITDAre is a performance
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measure widely used across the Company’s industry, the Company does not believe that it correctly captures the Company’s business operating performance because it includes non-cash expenses and recurring adjustments that are necessary to better understand the Company’s business operating performance. Therefore, in addition to EBITDAre, management uses Adjusted EBITDAre, a non-GAAP measure.
We further adjust EBITDAre for certain additional items such as stock-based compensation and incentive, indirect offering costs, real estate acquisition related audit fees and real estate related acquisition and due diligence costs and severance expense (for a full discussion of these adjustments, see AFFO adjustments discussed above) that we consider necessary to understand our operating performance. We believe that Adjusted EBITDAre provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding our ongoing operating performance that, when considered with net income and EBITDAre, is beneficial to an investor’s understanding of our operating performance.
EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
Because of these limitations, EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results of operations and using EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre only as a supplemental measure of our performance.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to our EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre for the periods indicated below (unaudited):
EBITDAre (1)
4,636
4,894
12,666
11,508
Adjusted EBITDAre (1)
6,521
5,400
15,103
12,487
Seasonality
We recognize rental revenue from fixed-rate farmland leases on a pro rata basis over the non-cancellable term of the lease in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Notwithstanding GAAP
accounting requirements to spread rental revenue over the lease term, a significant portion of fixed rent is received in a lump sum before planting season, in the first quarter, and after harvest, in the fourth quarter. We receive a significant portion of our variable rental payments in the fourth calendar quarter of each year, following harvest, with only a portion of such payments being recognized ratably through the year in accordance with GAAP, in relation to crop insurance contracts entered into by our tenants. The highly seasonal nature of the agriculture industry causes seasonality in our business to some extent. Our financial performance should be evaluated on an annual basis, which eliminates impacts of seasonality and other similar factors that may cause our quarterly results to vary during the course of the year.
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk includes risks that arise from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market-sensitive instruments. In pursuing our business strategies, the primary market risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk. Our primary interest rate exposure will be SOFR. We may use fixed interest rate financing to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. On a limited basis, we also use derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. We do not use such derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes.
At June 30, 2024, $110.4 million, or 28.1%, of our debt had variable interest rates however, as stated in “Note 10—Hedge Accounting” to the accompanying consolidated financial statements, the Company has an interest rate swap with Rabobank for $33.2 million, which reduces floating rate exposure to $77.2 million. After adjusting the $33.2 million of swapped Rabobank debt as fixed rate debt, the ratio of floating rate debt to total debt decreased from 28.1% to 19.6%. Assuming no increase in the level of our variable rate debt spreads, if SOFR increased by 1.0%, our cash flow would decrease by approximately $0.8 million per year, and if SOFR decreased by 1.0%, our cash flow would increase approximately $0.8 million per year.
Item 4.Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
We have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosures and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the six months ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
Item 1.Legal Proceedings.
For information regarding legal proceedings as of June 30, 2024, see Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Item 1A.Risk Factors.
As of June 30, 2024, there were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in response to “Part I – Item 1A. ‘Risk Factors’” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024.
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
On March 15, 2017, our Board of Directors approved a program to repurchase up to $25.0 million in shares of our common stock. Repurchases under this program may be made from time to time, in amounts and prices as we deem appropriate. Repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, trading restrictions under our insider trading policy and other relevant factors. This share repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be modified or suspended at any time at our discretion. We expect to fund repurchases under the program using cash on our balance sheet. On August 1, 2018, our Board of Directors increased the authority under the share repurchase to $38.5 million. On November 7, 2019, the Board of Directors approved an additional $50 million under the share repurchase program. On May 3, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a $75.0 million increase. On November 1, 2023, our Board of Directors approved a $40.0 million increase in the total authorization
available under the program, increasing the total availability under the share repurchase program to approximately $85.0 million as of such date. As of June 30, 2024, we had $83.3 million of capacity remaining under the program.
Our purchases of equity securities during the three months ended June 30, 2024, including repurchases under the share repurchase program are presented in the following table.
Total Number of Common Shares Purchased ⁽¹⁾
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Preferred Shares Purchased
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Share Repurchase Program
April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024
83,283
May 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024
June 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024
⁽¹⁾ There were no shares of our common stock transferred to us in order to satisfy tax withholding obligations incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock awards held by our employees during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company did not repurchase any shares of common or preferred stock.
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5.Other Information.
Rule 10b5-1 Plan Adoptions and Modifications
Item 6.Exhibits.
The exhibits on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed, furnished or incorporated by reference (as stated therein) as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Exhibit Index
ExhibitNumber
Description of Exhibit
Change in Control Agreement, dated May 28, 2024, by and between Farmland Partners Inc. and Susan Landi, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2024.
10.2*
First Amendment to Consolidation of Notes and Modification and Extension Agreement, dated June 18, 2024, by and between American Farmland Company L.P. and Rutledge Investment Company.
10.3*
First Amendment to Amended, Restated and Consolidated Loan Agreement, dated June 18, 2024, by and between Farmland Partners Inc., Farmland Partners Operating Partnership, L.P., American Farmland Company L.P. and Rutledge Investment Company.
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, were formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL.
* Filed herewith
51
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: July 25, 2024
/s/ Luca Fabbri
Luca Fabbri
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Susan M. Landi
Susan M. Landi
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)