Farmland Investors

[jd3007]

What does everyone think about companies like Assinibioa Land,AgCapita,HCL Ventures and now the chinese are here buying through a company called Maxcrop Inc. It was limited to a few parcels here and there but now I know some areas that have up to 30% of the land owned by outside investors. I know it is good if you are selling but what about young guys in the area who have to bid against them. MacCrop Inc has even posted on their website that buying sask land will help in your chances to immigrate to canada. Can they even say things like this?

[Hopperbin]

Not sure but I heard that it was the Chinese one that bought the Lever and Krause land near me from that other numbered unknown investment company. The other investment company owned less than one year and flipped it for 15 percent profit. Locals are way out of the market. Actually the chinese have been using investments in Canada for many many years as a way to get the kids into Canadian schools. The chinese are pretty well educated on all our gov't programs, and not poor. The ones that come here anyway.

[TOM4CWB]

You must be a Canadian Resident to buy farm land in Alberta!

Yet SK sells farm land to China et al?

[dave4441]

No, you have to be Canadian resident here as well, at least that is the general rule.

[wd9]

You do nothing about it. There is nothing you can. Its called capitalism.

[Klause]

Investors like AgCapita, etc. are paying an amount that makes the rent 5% of the purchase price....

If average rent in an area is 45/ac, then they will pay $900.

If rent is $60/ac, they pay $1200.

No big deal...

Some investors have different idears... they will be burned.

SK realtors are saying farmland in Canada is in a bubble... you know it's bad when....

[Hopperbin]

hmmm, so if one of these companies would trade on the tsx would you buy in?? I think not cause if so it would be set up like a mutual fund and 3 percent would go to the fund managers and only 2 percent would go to the investors. If lucky enough the renter would pay the land taxes. But we all scoffed at the price this winter but the land got flipped for over 15 percent not counting the rent percentage paid what ever that was. Anyways got talking to some filipino workers in Ogema couple weeks ago. Asked them if they were going to look for other work after their 3 year contract was up and they had plenty to talk about. Working in a hog barn is not so bad. Back home the chinese own most of the hog barns there and most rich people have body guards carrying guns very much in the open. Too bad the filipines could be such a great tourist place.

[SASKFARMER3]

This land thing just ps me off. Farmers don't need real estate guys to sell their farms most neighbors would purchase in heart beat.
Letting numbered companies or foreigners buy our dirt is just plain idiotic. Its stupid insane what ever one thinks its nuts.
One quick way to the poor house and becoming a serf is letting this happen. But what I am seeing is a whole new group of leaches coming out of all this.
Don't get me wrong capitalism works but land is king when it comes to farming food will control all and giving up ownership is beginning of the end for farmers.

[bluefargo]

No country should give up thier sovereignty by letting foreigners buy large tracts of farmland. It's got nothing to do with capitalism vrs socialism. It's about protecting the security and integrety of your country. I cannot see any benefit in having foreigners own our farmland.
In fact the concept of 'benefit' should be applied to other issues of ownership - the oilsands for example.