Apple Market Insight

For many New Zealand farmers, the rhythm of income is dictated by the land – weather, commodity prices, and global demand all play their part. This means, as the agricultural sector continues to face future volatility, more farmers are looking beyond the paddock for ways to stabilise and diversify their financial returns. One avenue that’s gaining traction as interest rates fall is commercial property investment. But what does it really involve, and how can farmers make sense of the jargon and risks to make informed decisions?

New Zealand farmers are no strangers to risk, with every season bringing its own set of challenges: milk payout swings, weather extremes, rising input costs, and regulatory changes, just to name a few. For decades, the strategy has been simple: own more land, milk more cows or run more cattle, and ride out the cycles. However, in the current climate, depending exclusively on dairy or sheep and beef farming leaves families vulnerable to broad, industry-wide risks that remain outside the control of even the most skilled producers.

A generational shift is occurring which could see over $150 billion in rural assets change hands, making the question of how best to invest farm capital more valuable than ever. Succession, risk management, and business resilience are top-of-mind for some of New Zealand’s farming families.

As we know, farming is a cyclical business. At present, we have the benefit of a low exchange rate, reasonable commodity prices, falling interest rates and farm values which are probably trending up, all of which is good. But farming families with foresight are looking through these good times and planning for the long term.