I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.
There are many ways to invest in farmland to protect your portfolio. We have done our research and identified these seven platforms that will give you the best returns on your investments in 2023.
Editors' Choice | Crowdfunding Platform | Farmer Owned Platform | Agriculture Investing |
Primary Rating: 5.0 | Primary Rating: 5.0 | Primary Rating: 4.0 | Primary Rating: 4.0 |
Benefits:
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- Average annual return of 11%
- Passive income
- Investment-grade farms
- Great track record
- Up to 13% annual returns
- Diverse product offerings
- Best-in-class operators
- All-in-one investment platforms
- Open to all investors
- Ability to invest with IRA
- No annual fees
- Low investment minimum
- Open to all investors
- Passive income
- Portfolio diversification
- Membership to Farm Owners Association (FOA)
Are you having sleepless nights worrying about your investments in the volatile stock market? There is no need to stress because there is a solution that will protect your money.
Farmland investing platforms are a safe investment and a hedge against inflation. Most investors cannot afford hundreds of millions of dollars to buy farmland, butthe farmland crowdfunding platforms featured in this article are our top picks for you in 2023.
Continue reading to find out how to make money by investing in a farm without owning it and sleep peacefully at night.
Top 7 Best Farmland Investment Platforms
- AcreTrader – Editors’ choice
- FarmTogether – Best crowdfunding platform
- FarmFundr – Farmer owned platform
- Harvest Returns – Best agriculture investing platform
- Steward – Best for beginners
- Farmfolio – Best for international farms
- Farmland LP – Best for sustainable farms
Methodology
We looked at fee structure, verified third-party reviews, the types of investments offered and historical returns to decide which farmland investment opportunities are the best for you.
We also looked at the current leadership, length of time in operation and general company philosophy.
Farmland Investing Platform Reviews
There was a time when most investors had to invest through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or real estate investment trusts (REITs), and only the wealthy few invested in farmland.
Now, farmland investment platforms give everyone access to this asset class. Read more about the seven best farmland investment platforms with high return rates and excellent earning potential.
AcreTrader – Editors’ Choice
Carter Mallory founded AcreTrader in 2017 to make farmland a more accessible investment while providing farmers with a new and unique way to get funding.
Company Highlights
- Location: Fayetteville, AK
- Products: Farms
- Investor type: Accredited investors
- BBB rating: A+
- Fees: 0.75% annual management fee
- Investment minimum: $10,000
Why we choose AcreTrader: AcreTrader has an excellent management team and reviews. It makes agricultural investing easy to understand if you are a beginner.
Diversify your portfolio while supporting a farmer. Invest with AcreTrader, in minutes.
FarmTogether – Best Crowdfunding Platform
Artem Milinchuk founded FarmTogether to make farmland investing accessible and to help farms in need of financial support. Since its inception in 2017, it has managed more than $165 million in assets and supported more than 40 farms.
Company Highlights
- Location: Lewes, DE
- Products: Crowdfunding, farmland fund, sole ownership
- Investor type: Accredited investors
- Fees: 1% – 2% annual management fee
- Investment minimum: $15,000
Why we choose FarmTogether: The leadership team at FarmTogether diligently manages partnerships between investors and farmers. There are many offerings, so most investors will find what they’re looking for.
FarmTogether enables accredited investors and institutions to invest directly in high-quality farmland assets vetted by rigorous, institutional due diligence and active asset management.
FarmFundr – Farmer Owned Platform
Brandon Silveira founded FarmFundr in 2015. It works differently than other investment platforms. FarmFundr gives investors a full equity stake and pays a cash yield based on a farm’s profits.
Company Highlights
- Location: Hanford, CA
- Products: Crowdfunded farms
- Investor type: Accredited investors
- Fees: 0.75% – 1.00% annual management fee
- Investment minimum: $10,000
Why we choose FarmFundr: FarmFundr focuses on pristine U.S. farmland and has a history of high returns. It looks after the farmers by allowing them to keep their assets.
Harvest Returns – Best Agriculture Investing Platform
Chris Rawley founded Harvest Returns in 2016 to create a way for non-accredited investors to invest in high-quality farmland while simultaneously protecting the farmers.
Company Highlights
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Products: Agricultural investments
- Investor type: Open to all investors
- BBB rating: N/A
- Fees: No annual fees
- Investment minimum: $5,000
Why we choose Harvest Returns: Harvest Returns has a reasonable minimum investment and no fees. It allows you to invest in agriculture from your IRA.
Steward – Best for Beginners
Dan Miller founded Steward in 2006. It is a low-minimum platform that supports farms that adopt environmentally friendly growing methods.
Company Highlights
- Location: Portland, OR
- Products: Borrowing and lending options
- Investor type: Open to all investors
- Fees: No fees for investors. Farmers pay a 3% loan origination fee
- Investment minimum: $100
Why we choose Steward: Steward’s fee structure allows you to maximize your profit potential. Steward is open to all investors and has a history of high returns.
Farmfolio – Best for International Farms
Oscar Baracaldo co-founded Farmfolio in 2015, which allows you to invest in farms located outside the U.S. It offers hard ownership of the farms you invest in. Baracaldo heads up his team that helps U.S. investors capitalize on the global agriculture trade.
Company Highlights
Location: Jupiter, FL - Products: Farms
- Investor type: Open to all investors
- Fees: There are no fees
- Investment minimum: $30,000
Why we choose Farmfolio: Farmfolio is an option for investing in farms outside of the U.S. It provides more portfolio diversification than most other platforms.
Farmland LP – Best for Sustainable Farms
Craig Wichner founded Farmland LP in 2009. It has led the charge in creating ways for investors to access agricultural profits. The company focuses on organic farming transformations.
Company Highlights
- Location: Larkspur, CA
- Products: Farmland fund, REIT
- Investor type: Accredited investors
- Fees: 1.75% annual management fee
- Investment minimum: $50,000
Why we choose Farmland LP: Farmland LP is an established crowdfunding farm investment platform and the top-ranked organic farmland fund manager in the U.S.
Farmland Investors Guide
Farmland can be a profitable investment, but it’s not without risk. Let’s look at the primary benefits and risks of investing in farmland platforms and ways to minimize the risks.
Benefits of Farmland Investing Platforms
- History of great returns: Farmland returns have outperformed the stock market over the last few decades.
- Professionally managed: The platforms have experts in all fields to select quality farmland for their investors.
- Variety of investment options: There are a variety of crops, farm locations and farm management styles on offer.
- Exposure to farmland: Farmland is a tangible asset where you can enjoy outdoor pursuits such as water sports, camping and hiking.
- Hands-off investing: You can choose your investment and let it grow. It requires no additional effort on your part.
- Passive income: Investing in farmland through a platform gives you the benefit of passive income.
Risks of Farmland Investing Platforms
- Long holding periods: Most farmland investments have holding periods ranging from 2 to several years.
- Accreditation: Most platforms require accredited investor status (a net worth of $1 million and an annual salary above $200,000) for you to qualify as a farmland investor.
- Illiquidity: It takes time to convert your investment into cash.
- Long-term investment strategy: A farmland investment will be a problem for the investor who needs to convert their investment to cash in a hurry.
- No guarantee of returns: Farmland real estate cannot guarantee returns.
How to Pick The Right Farmland Investment Platform
Always seek advice from a financial advisor and consider these factors.
- Eligibility requirements: Does the investment platform require accredited investors or not?
- Commissions and fees: Remember that low fees will maximize your earnings.
- Investment minimums: Know how much you’re willing to invest and find options that suit your budget.
- Track record: Find a company with positive third-party reviews and zero fraudulent claims or poor customer service.
- Holding period: Choose a holding period that suits your goals.
- Distribution frequency: The platforms pay dividends annually, biannually or quarterly. Choose the investment that pays dividends to suit your needs.
- Performance: The past performance record should match or exceed that of its competitors.
Which Farmland Investing Platform is Best for Me?
Any of the platforms listed above will serve investors well. Choosing your farmland investing platform depends on your investment style, risk tolerance and preferences.
Remember to talk to your financial advisor to make the process as simple as possible.
FAQs
What is farmland investing?
It is investing in land that produces returns through crops. Investors finance a farm, while management professionals run it.
How does investing in farmland work?
You can either purchase a farm or a section of a farm and benefit from its profits, or you can finance a farm with a loan that charges interest.
Is farmland a good investment?
Farmland is a reliable, effective investment and a hedge against inflation.
Diversify your portfolio while supporting a farmer. Invest with AcreTrader, in minutes.
I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.
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