Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Real Estate and Intangible Assets

v3.10.0.1
Real Estate and Intangible Assets
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Real Estate [Abstract]  
REAL ESTATE AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
REAL ESTATE AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
All of our properties are wholly-owned on a fee-simple basis, except where noted. The following table provides certain summary information about our 82 farms as of September 30, 2018 (dollars in thousands, except for footnotes):
Location
 
No. of Farms
 
Total Acres
 
Farm Acres
 
Net Cost Basis(1)
 
Encumbrances(2)
California
 
31
 
8,435
 
7,655
 
$
218,056

 
$
154,098

Florida
 
22
 
17,184
 
12,981
 
155,219

 
97,480

Arizona(3)
 
6
 
6,280
 
5,228
 
52,488

 
22,513

Colorado
 
10
 
31,448
 
24,513
 
41,421

 
24,499

Nebraska
 
2
 
2,559
 
2,101
 
10,504

 
7,050

Washington
 
1
 
746
 
417
 
8,980

 
5,281

Oregon
 
3
 
418
 
363
 
5,980

 
3,494

Michigan
 
5
 
446
 
291
 
4,938

 
2,821

North Carolina
 
2
 
310
 
295
 
2,333

 
1,270

 
 
82
 
67,826
 
53,844
 
$
499,919

 
$
318,506

(1) 
Consists of the initial acquisition price (including the costs allocated to both tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed), plus subsequent improvements and other capitalized costs associated with the properties, and adjusted for accumulated depreciation and amortization. Includes Investments in real estate, net (excluding improvements paid for by the tenant) and Lease intangibles, net; plus net above-market lease values and lease incentives included in Other assets, net; and less net below-market lease values and other deferred revenue included in Other liabilities, net; each as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(2) 
Excludes approximately $2.3 million of debt issuance costs related to mortgage notes and bonds payable, included in Mortgage notes and bonds payable, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(3) 
Includes two farms in which we own a leasehold interest via ground leases with the State of Arizona that expire in February 2022 and February 2025, respectively. In total, these two farms consist of 1,368 total acres and 1,221 farm acres and had an aggregate net cost basis of approximately $2.8 million as of September 30, 2018 (included in Lease intangibles, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet).
Real Estate
The following table sets forth the components of our investments in tangible real estate assets as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Real estate:
 
 
 
 
Land and land improvements
 
$
389,333

 
$
356,316

Irrigation systems
 
65,427

 
50,282

Buildings
 
18,507

 
18,191

Horticulture
 
39,320

 
34,803

Other improvements
 
6,750

 
6,551

Real estate, at gross cost
 
519,337

 
466,143

Accumulated depreciation
 
(22,269
)
 
(16,657
)
Real estate, net
 
$
497,068

 
$
449,486


Real estate depreciation expense on these tangible assets was approximately $2.1 million and $6.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $1.7 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Included in the figures above are amounts related to tenant improvements, which are improvements made on certain of our properties paid for by our tenants but owned by us. As of each of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, we recorded tenant improvements, net of accumulated depreciation, of approximately $2.3 million. We recorded both depreciation expense and additional rental revenue related to these tenant improvements of approximately $77,000 and $228,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $61,000 and $150,000 for three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Intangible Assets and Liabilities
The following table summarizes the carrying values of certain lease intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Lease intangibles:
 
 
 
 
Leasehold interest – land
 
$
3,498

 
$
3,498

In-place leases
 
1,957

 
1,451

Leasing costs
 
2,009

 
1,490

Tenant relationships
 
439

 
439

Lease intangibles, at cost
 
7,903

 
6,878

Accumulated amortization
 
(2,074
)
 
(1,386
)
Lease intangibles, net
 
$
5,829

 
$
5,492


Total amortization expense related to these lease intangible assets was approximately $289,000 and $834,768 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $390,000 and $739,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
The following table summarizes the carrying values of certain lease intangible assets or liabilities included in Other assets, net or Other liabilities, net, respectively, on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related accumulated amortization or accretion, respectively, as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Intangible Asset or Liability
 
Deferred
Rent Asset
(Liability)
 
Accumulated
(Amortization)
Accretion
 
Deferred
Rent Asset
(Liability)
 
Accumulated
(Amortization)
Accretion
Above-market lease values and lease incentives(1)
 
$
26

 
$
(11
)
 
$
26

 
$
(5
)
Below-market lease values and other deferred revenue(2)
 
(823
)
 
176

 
(823
)
 
125

 
 
$
(797
)
 
$
165

 
$
(797
)
 
$
120

(1) 
Above-market lease values and lease incentives are included as part of Other assets, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the related amortization is recorded as a reduction of rental income.
(2) 
Below-market lease values and other deferred revenue are included as a part of Other liabilities, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the related accretion is recorded as an increase to rental income.
Total amortization related to above-market lease values and lease incentives was approximately $2,000 and $5,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $4,000 and $7,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Total accretion related to below-market lease values and other deferred revenue was approximately $17,000 and $50,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and $17,000 and $47,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.
Acquisitions
Upon our adoption of ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” during the three months ended December 31, 2016, most acquisitions, including those with a prior leasing history, are generally treated as an asset acquisition under ASC 360. For acquisitions accounted for as asset acquisitions under ASC 360, all acquisition-related costs are capitalized and included as part of the fair value allocation of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, other than those costs that directly related to originating new leases we execute upon acquisition, which are capitalized as part of leasing costs. In addition, total consideration for acquisitions may include a combination of cash and equity securities, such as OP Units. When OP Units are issued in connection with acquisitions, we determine the fair value of the OP Units issued based on the number of units issued multiplied by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of acquisition. Unless otherwise noted, all properties acquired during 2017 and 2018 were accounted for as asset acquisitions under ASC 360.
2018 Acquisitions
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we acquired ten new farms, which are summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):
Property
Name
 
Property
Location
 
Acquisition
Date
 
Total
Acreage
 
No. of
Farms
 
Primary
Crop(s)
 
Lease
Term
 
Renewal
Options
 
Total
Purchase
Price
 
Acquisition
Costs
 
Annualized
Straight-line
Rent(1)
 
New
Long-term
Debt
Taft Highway(2)
 
Kern, CA
 
1/31/2018
 
161
 
1
 
Potatoes and Melons
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
$
2,945

 
$
32

 
$

 
$
1,473

Cemetery Road
 
Van Buren, MI
 
3/13/2018
 
176
 
1
 
Blueberries
 
9.6 years
 
None
 
2,100

 
39

 
150

 
1,260

Owl Hammock(3)
 
Collier & Hendry, FL
 
7/12/2018
 
5,630
 
5
 
Vegetables and Melons
 
7.0 years
 
2 (5 years)
 
37,350

 
192

 
2,148

 
22,410

Plantation Road
 
Jackson, FL
 
9/6/2018
 
574
 
1
 
Peanuts and Melons
 
2.3 years
 
None
 
2,600

 
35

 
142

 
1,560

Flint Avenue
 
Kings, CA
 
9/13/2018
 
194
 
2
 
Cherries
 
15.3 years
 
1 (5 years)
 
6,850

 
58

 
523

 
4,110

 
 
 
 
 
 
6,735
 
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
51,845

 
$
356

 
$
2,963

 
$
30,813

(1) 
Annualized straight-line rent is based on the minimum cash rental payments guaranteed under the lease, as required under GAAP, and excludes contingent rental payments, such as participation rents.
(2) 
Farm was purchased with no lease in place at the time of acquisition.
(3) 
In connection with the acquisition of this property, we committed to providing up to $2.0 million of capital for certain irrigation and property improvements. As stipulated in the lease, we will earn additional rental income 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 follow-on lease).
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, in the aggregate, we recognized operating revenues of approximately $554,000 and $603,000, respectively, and net income of approximately $168,000 and $140,000, respectively, related to the above acquisitions.
2017 Acquisitions
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we acquired 14 new farms, which are summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands).
Property
Name
 
Property
Location
 
Acquisition
Date
 
Total
Acreage
 
No. of
Farms
 
Primary
Crop(s)
 
Lease Term(1)
 
Renewal
Options
 
Total
Purchase
Price
 
Acquisition
Costs
 
Annualized
Straight-line
Rent
(2)
 
Net
Long-term
Debt
Citrus Boulevard
 
Martin, FL
 
1/12/2017
 
3,748
 
1
 
Organic Vegetables
 
7.0 years
 
3 (5 years)
 
$
54,000

 
$
80

 
$
2,926

 
$
32,400

Spot Road(3)
 
Yuma, AZ
 
6/1/2017
 
3,280
 
4
 
Melons and Alfalfa Hay
 
8.6 years
 
1 (10 years) & 1 (2 years)
 
27,500

 
88

 
1,673

 
15,300

Poplar Street
 
Bladen, NC
 
6/2/2017
 
310
 
2
 
Organic Blueberries
 
9.6 years
 
1 (5 years)
 
2,169

 
49

 
122

(4) 
1,301

Phelps Avenue
 
Fresno, CA
 
7/17/2017
 
847
 
4
 
Pistachios and Almonds
 
10.3 years
 
1 (5 years)
 
13,603

 
43

 
681

(4) 
8,162

Parrot Avenue(5)
 
Okeechobee, FL
 
8/9/2017
 
1,910
 
1
 
Misc. Vegetables
 
0.5 years
 
None
 
9,700

 
67

 
488

 
5,820

Cat Canyon Road(6)
 
Santa Barbara, CA
 
8/30/2017
 
361
 
1
 
Wine Grapes
 
9.8 years
 
2 (5 years)
 
5,375

 
112

 
322

 
3,225

Oasis Road
 
Walla Walla, WA
 
9/8/2017
 
746
 
1
 
Apples, Cherries, and Wine Grapes
 
6.3 years
 
None
 
9,500

 
45

 
480

(4) 
5,460

 
 
 
 
 
 
11,202
 
14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
121,847

 
$
484

 
$
6,692

 
$
71,668

(1) 
Where more than one lease was assumed or executed, represents the weighted average lease term on the property.
(2) 
Annualized straight-line rent is based on the minimum cash rental payments guaranteed under the lease, as required under GAAP, and excludes contingent rental payments, such as participation rents.
(3) 
Includes two farms (1,368 total acres) acquired through a leasehold interest, with the State of Arizona as the lessor. These state leases expire in February 2022 (485 total acres) and February 2025 (883 total acres). In addition, in connection with the acquisition of this property, we assumed four in-place leases with us as the lessor or sublessor. Three of these leases are agricultural leases, with one lease expiring on June 30, 2019, and two leases expiring on September 15, 2026. The fourth lease is a residential lease that expires on September 30, 2019.
(4) 
These leases provide for a variable rent component based on the gross crop revenues earned on the respective properties. The figures above represent only the minimum cash guaranteed under the respective leases.
(5) 
In connection with the acquisition of this property, we executed a 6-year, follow-on lease with a new tenant that begins upon the expiration of the 7-month lease assumed at acquisition. The follow-on lease includes two, 6-year extension options and provides for minimum annualized straight-line rents of approximately $542,000. In addition, in connection with the execution of the follow-on lease, as amended, we committed to providing up to $2.5 million of capital for certain irrigation and property improvements. As stipulated in the follow-on lease, we will earn additional rental income 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 follow-on lease).
(6) 
In connection with the acquisition of this property, we committed up to $4.0 million of capital to fund the development of additional vineyard acreage on the property. As stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rental income on the total cost of the project as the capital is disbursed by us at rates specified in the lease.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, in the aggregate, we recognized operating revenues of approximately $1.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively, and earnings of approximately $341,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, related to the above acquisition.
Purchase Price Allocations
The allocation of the aggregate purchase price for the farms acquired during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows (dollars in thousands):
Acquisition Period
 
Land and Land
Improvements
 
Irrigation &
Drainage Systems
 
Horticulture
 
Buildings
 
Other Improvements
 
Leasehold
Interest –
Land
 
In-place
Leases
 
Leasing
Costs
 
Net Below-Market Leases
 
Total
Purchase Price
2018 Acquisitions
 
$
44,749

 
$
1,548

 
$
4,288

 
$
123

 
$

 
$

 
$
626

 
$
511

 
$

 
$
51,845

2017 Acquisitions
 
89,614

 
11,534

 
12,611

 
2,804

 
824

 
3,488

 
487

 
508

 
(23
)
 
121,847


Acquired Intangibles and Liabilities
The following table shows the weighted-average amortization periods (in years) for the intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with new real estate acquired during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
Weighted-Average
Amortization Period (in Years)
Intangible Assets and Liabilities
 
2018
 
2017
Leasehold interest – land
 
0.0
 
6.9
In-place leases
 
7.0
 
6.3
Leasing costs
 
7.1
 
8.8
Above-market lease values
 
0.0
 
2.1
Below-market lease values and deferred revenue
 
0.0
 
4.7
All intangible assets and liabilities
7.1
 
7.0

Significant Existing Real Estate Activity
Leasing Activity
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we terminated the leases on two of our farms in Cochise County, Arizona, early and entered into two new lease agreements with a new tenant. Each of the new leases is for a term of one year and provides for aggregate minimum rents of approximately $480,000, which represents a decrease of approximately $203,000 (approximately 29.7%) from that of the prior leases (before each of their terminations). However, each of the new leases also contains a variable rent component based on the total gross revenues earned by the tenants on the respective farms, whereas the prior leases were both fixed-rent leases. In addition, both of the new leases are pure, triple-net lease agreements, whereas one of the prior leases was a partial-net lease (with us responsible for the property taxes on the farm). In connection with one of the early lease terminations, on the termination date, the lease had a deferred rent liability balance of approximately $84,000. In accordance with ASC 360-10, we recognized this balance as additional rental income during the three months ended March 31, 2018 (on the lease termination date). In connection with the other early lease termination, a full allowance of the respective lease’s deferred rent asset balance (which was approximately $50,000) was recorded to bad debt expense during the three months ended December 31, 2017. No downtime was incurred as a result of the early terminations and re-leasing of these farms, nor were any leasing commissions or tenant improvements incurred in connection with the new leases.
On June 11, 2018, we entered into a new 10-year lease agreement with a new, unrelated third-party tenant on the 169-acre farm located in Ventura County, California, previously farmed by Land Advisers. The new lease commenced on August 1, 2018, and provides for annualized straight-line rent of approximately $667,000, which represents a decrease of approximately $91,000, or 12.0%, from that of the previous lease that was assigned to Land Advisers (see Note 6, “Related-Party Transactions—TRS Lease Assumption” for further discussion on this lease assignment). However, the new lease is a pure, triple-net lease, whereas the previous lease was a partial-net lease (with us, as landlord, responsible for the property taxes on the farm, which are currently approximately $112,000 per year).
On August 28, 2018, we reached an agreement with the current tenant on our 72-acre farm in Santa Cruz, California, to terminate the lease (which was originally scheduled to expire on October 31, 2020) on October 31, 2018, and simultaneously entered into a new, 10-year lease with a new, unrelated third-party tenant. The new lease commenced on November 1, 2018, and provides for annualized minimum straight-line rent of approximately $200,000, which represents an increase of approximately $41,000 (approximately 26.0%) over that of the prior lease (before its early termination).
On August 30, 2018, we amended the lease on our 164-acre farm in Ventura County, California, to exclude certain hillside acreage from the lease and extend the term by one additional year (through July 31, 2021). The amendment resulted in a decrease in annualized minimum straight-line rent of approximately $62,000 (approximately 16.2%) from that of the original lease.
Property Dispositions
Land Exchange
On June 7, 2018, we completed a transaction with the current tenant on one of our Florida farms where we exchanged land for total consideration consisting of both land and cash. As a result of the transaction, we sold 26 net acres for total cash proceeds of approximately $132,000 and, after closing costs, recognized a nominal loss on the transaction.
Property Sale
On July 10, 2018, we completed the sale of our 1,895-acre farm in Morrow County, Oregon (“Oregon Trail”), to the existing tenant for $20.5 million. Including closing costs and the write-off of a deferred rent asset balance of approximately $154,000, we recognized a net gain on the sale of approximately $6.4 million. Proceeds from this sale were used to acquire Owl Hammock (as described in Note 3, “Real Estate and Intangible Assets,”) as part of a like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code.
Project Completion
In connection with a lease amendment executed on one of our Florida properties in June 2017, we committed to providing additional capital to expand and upgrade the existing cooler on the property. These improvements were completed during the three months ended March 31, 2018, at a total cost of approximately $748,000. As a result of these improvements (and pursuant to the lease amendment), we expect to receive approximately $302,000 of additional rental income throughout the term of the lease, which expires on June 30, 2022.
Property and Casualty Loss
In January 2018, a lightning strike damaged the power plant that supplies power to one of our Arizona properties, causing damage to certain irrigation improvements on our property. We estimated the carrying value of the improvements damaged by the lightning strike to be approximately $129,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we wrote down the carrying values of the damaged improvements by approximately $129,000, and, in accordance with ASC 610-30, “Revenue Recognition—Other Income—Gains and Losses on Involuntary Conversions,” recorded a corresponding property and casualty loss on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Repairs were completed on the damaged irrigation improvements during the three months ended March 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we incurred approximately $81,000 to repair the damaged improvements, of which approximately $34,000 was capitalized as real estate additions and $47,000 was recorded as repairs and maintenance expense, which is included within Property operating expenses on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
We are still in the process of assessing the amount expected to be recovered, as well as the collectability of such amounts; thus, no offset to the loss has been recorded as of September 30, 2018.
Portfolio Diversification and Concentrations
Diversification
The following table summarizes the geographic locations, by state, of our farms with leases in place as of September 30, 2018 and 2017 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
As of and For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
As of and For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
State
 
Number
of
Farms
 
Total
Acres
 
% of
Total
Acres
 
Rental
Revenue
 
% of Total
Rental
Revenue
 
Number
of
Farms
 
Total
Acres
 
% of
Total
Acres
 
Rental
Revenue
 
% of Total
Rental
Revenue
California(1)
 
31
 
8,435
 
12.4%
 
$
9,880

 
46.3%
 
27
 
7,921
 
12.8%
 
$
8,749

 
47.8%
Florida
 
22
 
17,184
 
25.3%
 
5,790

 
27.1%
 
17
 
11,225
 
18.2%
 
4,839

 
26.5%
Colorado
 
10
 
31,448
 
46.4%
 
2,057

 
9.7%
 
9
 
30,170
 
48.8%
 
2,018

 
11.0%
Arizona
 
6
 
6,280
 
9.3%
 
1,425

 
6.7%
 
6
 
6,280
 
10.2%
 
1,114

 
6.1%
Oregon
 
3
 
418
 
0.6%
 
765

 
3.6%
 
4
 
2,313
 
3.7%
 
887

 
4.8%
Washington
 
1
 
746
 
1.1%
 
596

 
2.8%
 
1
 
746
 
1.2%
 
31

 
0.2%
Nebraska
 
2
 
2,559
 
3.8%
 
435

 
2.0%
 
2
 
2,559
 
4.2%
 
435

 
2.4%
Michigan
 
5
 
446
 
0.7%
 
270

 
1.3%
 
4
 
270
 
0.4%
 
187

 
1.0%
North Carolina
 
2
 
310
 
0.4%
 
115

 
0.5%
 
2
 
310
 
0.5%
 
42

 
0.2%
TOTALS
 
82
 
67,826
 
100.0%
 
$
21,333

 
100.0%
 
72
 
61,794
 
100.0%
 
$
18,302

 
100.0%

(1) 
According to the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, there are eight distinct growing regions within California; our farms are spread across four of these growing regions.
Concentrations
Credit Risk
As of September 30, 2018, our farms were leased to 56 different, unrelated third-party tenants, with certain tenants leasing more than one farm. One unrelated tenant (“Tenant A”) leases five of our farms, and aggregate rental revenue attributable to Tenant A accounted for approximately $3.3 million, or 15.6%, of the rental revenue recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. If Tenant A fails to make rental payments, elects to terminate its leases prior to their expirations, or does not renew its leases (and we cannot re-lease the farms on satisfactory terms), there could be a material adverse effect on our financial performance and ability to continue operations. No other individual tenant represented greater than 10.0% of our total rental revenue recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Geographic Risk
Farms located in California and Florida accounted for approximately $9.9 million (46.3%) and $5.8 million (27.1%), respectively, of the rental revenue recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Though we seek to continue to further diversify geographically, as may be desirable or feasible, should an unexpected natural disaster occur where our properties are located, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial performance and ability to continue operations. None of our farms in Florida were materially impacted by Hurricane Michael during October 2018. No other single state accounted for more than 10.0% of our total rental revenue recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.