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August 4, 2006
No cooling in land
demand in Texas
Early returns on land sales in Texas suggest that market is
only gaining momentum. That's the report from Charles Gilliland of
the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.
Gilliland writes: "Our first quarter reports are not complete, but we are currently showing a 14 percent increase over the first quarter of 2005."
This suggests 2006's annual increase could exceed 2005's 17 percent burst. If that occurs, it would mark the fourth consecutive year of double-digit gains. Plus, each year's gain is higher than the prior year's. Talk about momentum!
LandOwner covered the hot
Texas rural real estate market in their May 4 issue. The factors listed there,
primarily the move out of urban areas into the country, are obviously
still at work. The explosion in energy prices is no doubt contributing to
the strong economic health in the state. In addition, existing landowners
are unwilling to sell.
Source:
LandOwner; June 15, 2006; Vol. 27– Issue 12
Synthetic meat, no; hybrid meat? We'll see...
Several offerings of soy-based synthetic meat have failed in the past due to consumer rejection of both taste and texture. Now, however, the Solae Company has invented a new generation of technology called SoleCina™. Food scientists said recently that the final product is a nutritious "hybrid" of meat and soy with the taste and consistency of cooked, whole muscle meat.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 69, No. 26-1; June 30, 2006
$5,100 an acre paid for Iowa farm
The land market may be cooling, but don't tell that to operators and landowners in west central Iowa near Denison, southeast of Sioux City. That's where neighboring farmers battled recently for 165 acres of Crawford County farmland.
The CSR (Corn Suitability Rating) on the land was 61—not spectacular but acceptable for that area of the state.
But the key factors for the exceptional price were there. First, there was an aggressive, large commercial operator with a reputation of buying any cropland available in the area. The operator reportedly farms in excess of 25,000 acres. Second, there was the neighboring farmer anxious to add to current holdings.
Result: $5,100 per acre. The successful bidder was the large operator.
Rumor has it the sellers hoped for $4,000 an acre, which would be one of the highest prices ever paid for area land if achieved. It will be interesting to see if the $5,100 price coaxes any new listing onto that area's market.
Source: LandOwner; June 15, 2006,
Vol. 27– Issue 12
Scientists take hard look at 'super oats'
Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan are looking into a new variety of oats that is much more digestible and of higher oil content than conventional oats.
Cattle perform as well on it as they do on barley, but at lower cost. The oats are especially good for back- grounding programs.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report;
Vol. 69, No. 26-1; June 30, 2006
