Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Obligations
In connection with a lease amendment we executed on one of our Oregon farms in May 2017, we committed to providing up to $1.8 million of capital for anticipated improvements on the farm, including irrigation upgrades and the planting of new blueberry bushes, which improvements are expected to be completed by December 31, 2020. As stipulated in the lease amendment, we will begin earning additional rent on the cost of the improvements as the funds are disbursed by us at an initial annual rate of 6.5%, which rate is subject to annual escalations and market resets. As a result of this project, and assuming full deployment of the capital commitment amount, we expect to receive approximately $718,000 of additional rent throughout the term of the lease, which expires September 30, 2024. As of March 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $829,000 related to this project.
In connection with the lease we executed upon our acquisition of our two North Carolina farms in June 2017, we committed to providing up to $300,000 of capital over the first two years to support additional plantings and infrastructure on the farm, which improvements are expected to be completed by June 30, 2019. As stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rent on the total cost of the improvements as disbursements are made by us at a rate commensurate with the annual yield on the farmland (as determined by each year’s minimum cash rent per the lease). As a result of this project, and assuming full deployment of the capital commitment amount, we expect to receive approximately $157,000 of additional rent throughout the term of the lease, which expires December 31, 2026. As of March 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $166,000 related to this project.
In connection with the follow-on lease we executed upon our acquisition of a 1,910-acre farm in Florida in August 2017 (which had a commencement date of February 24, 2018), and as amended on March 23, 2018, we committed to providing up to $2.5 million of capital in the first year of the lease to support additional plantings and infrastructure on the farm, which improvements are expected to be completed during the three months ending June 30, 2018. As stipulated in the follow-on lease agreement, we will earn additional rent on the total cost of the improvements as disbursements are made by us at a rate commensurate with the annual yield on the farmland (as determined by each year’s minimum cash rent per the lease). As a result of this project, and assuming full deployment of the capital commitment amount, we expect to receive approximately $820,000 of additional rent throughout the term of the lease, which expires February 23, 2024. As of March 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $1.7 million related to this project.
In connection with the lease we executed upon our acquisition of a 361-acre farm in California in August 2017, we committed to providing up to $4.0 million of capital over the first two years to fund the development of additional vineyard acreage on the farm, which development is expected to be completed by August 30, 2019. As stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rent on the total cost of the improvements as the funds are disbursed by us at an initial annual rate of 6.0%, which is subject to annual escalations. As a result of this project, and assuming full deployment of the capital commitment amount, we expect to receive approximately $2.3 million of additional rent throughout the term of the lease, which expires May 31, 2027. As of March 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $710,000 related to this project.
Ground Lease Obligations
In connection with two farms acquired on June 1, 2017, through a leasehold interest, we assumed two ground leases under which we are the lessee (with the State of Arizona as the lessor). During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded approximately $12,000 of lease expense (included as part of Property operating expenses on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations) as a result of these ground leases. Future minimum lease payments due under the terms of these leases as of March 31, 2018, are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Period
 
Estimated Minimum
Lease Payments Due(1)
For the remaining nine months ending December 31:
2018
 
$
36

For the fiscal years ending December 31:
2019
 
47

 
2020
 
47

 
2021
 
47

 
2022
 
30

 
2023
 
30

 
Thereafter
 
30

 
 
 
$
267

(1) 
Annual lease payments are set at the beginning of each year to then-current market rates (as determined by the State of Arizona). The amounts shown above represent estimated amounts based on the lease rates currently in place.
Litigation
In the ordinary course of business, we may be involved in legal proceedings from time to time. We are not currently subject to any material known or threatened litigation.