AcreTrader vs. FarmTogether: Which is a Better Platform to Invest in Farmland?

Some products in this article are from our partners. Read our Advertiser Discloser.

AcreTrader vs FarmTogether review

Are you looking to diversify your portfolio but don’t want to pursue traditional real estate investments? If so, investing in farmland might be the perfect option for you.

AcreTrader and FarmTogether are two of the leading services for farmland investing. Both platforms are open to accredited investors, but they differ in multiple ways. 

Our AcreTrader vs. FarmTogether comparison looks at the strengths and investment options of each platform so that you can choose the better service for your investment goals.

AcreTrader vs. FarmTogether Comparison

AcreTraderFarmTogether
Fees0.75% annual fee, 5% selling feeVaries
Minimum Investment$10,000$15,000
ReturnsUp to 15%Up to 12%
Secondary MarketNoNo
Open to Unaccredited InvestorsNo, you must be an accredited investorNo, you must be an accredited investor
Geographic FocusNationwideLimited to certain states
Crop typesPermanent crops, row crops and timberlandPermanent crops and row crops

What is AcreTrader?

AcreTrader home page

AcreTrader is a relatively new platform that supports farmland investing. Several members of its senior leadership come from multi-generation farming families. 

The site partners with farmers across the United States to raise funds from individual investors to afford a multi-year lease.

Investor’s funds can also help fund land improvements to increase productivity. Depending on the offering, AcreTrader may help farmers transition to organic farming for added sustainability. 

This crowdfunded real estate platform has farmland and timberland offerings that allow fractional ownership with investment minimums as low as $10,000. The estimated minimum holding period is usually five years.

In addition, AcreTrader strives to add up to two new listings per week. This means you have plenty of opportunities to pursue farmland investing.

Unfortunately, the service currently only accepts accredited investors due to SEC regulations. Non-citizens who are legal residents in the United States are eligible to invest.

Read our AcreTrader review.

How Does AcreTrader Work?

After joining AcreTrader, investors can commit cash to open offerings and attend webinars for upcoming listings. 

The farmland real estate is located across the United States.

It grows these cash crops:

  • Row crops (corn, cotton, potato, soybeans, wheat, etc.)
  • Permanent crops (almonds)
  • Timber

Being able to invest in timberland as a real estate investment opportunity is a unique alternative investment that provides additional diversification and long-term income potential.

Most farmland investing offerings have a target holding period of five to 10 years. However, some farmland investments may require up to a 20-year commitment.

So far, the platform has successfully exited three property investment cycles, allowing investors to redeem their shares for a profit.

You can invest in AcreTrader’s offerings through a taxable account or self-directed IRA. 

Investment Offerings

AcreTrader offerings

It’s essential to do your research when it comes to any potential investment. This involves understanding the potential rewards and risks. 

With AcreTrader, visiting the offering page for each opportunity is an excellent first step to analyzing the property.

The offering page lists these details:

  • Property name and location
  • Farm map and photos
  • Financial assumptions
  • Types of crops grown
  • Gross cash yield
  • Net annual return
  • Minimum investment
  • Target investment period

The minimum investment varies by offering and depends on the cost per acre. Additionally, the estimated ownership duration can vary. 

That said, this is generally a long-term investment idea.

After making an investment pledge, the invested funds go into an escrow account until the fundraising goal is achieved. Then, the cash is invested, and you can start earning income. 

AcreTrader tends to offer a great deal of diversity regarding investment options. This is because investment opportunities are spread across the United States, including the southern states.

How Investors Make Money

Investors primarily make money by collecting rent from the tenant farmer before the planting season starts. As a result, your investment performance doesn’t rely on crop performance, which can be volatile.

Depending on the agreement, investors may also share profits from the annual harvest. However, most deal structures don’t require the tenant farmers to split the profits from their labor.

In addition, you will receive your initial investment back at the end of the holding period when the property sells. Your shares can increase in value if the property sells for a higher price.

The estimated holding time period is typically five to 10 years. Keep in mind that there isn’t a secondary market to sell your shares early when it comes to farmland investing with AcreTrader.

AcreTrader Rating

AcreTrader ratings

All potential offerings must pass a three-part screening process that involves an on-property inspection and a comparison to similar farms. 

For farms that pass the test and qualify for investment, the platform assigns an AcreTrader Rating to highlight potential risks. This helps you determine if an investment is right for you.

In a nutshell, the higher the AcreTrader Rating, the higher the risk. The lower the rating, the lower the risk.

Farm Value Tool

AcreTrader farm value tooll

AcreTrader offers a farm value tool that makes it easy to compare the estimated investment returns to historical returns for a particular state.

Some of the research factors include:

  • Average annual returns
  • Price per acre
  • Rental rates 

You can view farming details for specific states as well. For example, you can see county-level data or evaluate a state’s most common crop. 

How Much You Need to Invest in AcreTrader

It’s free to join AcreTrader, and you only pay fees on active investments. 

The minimum investment varies by property but is usually between $10,000 and $20,000. Each share is 1/10 of an acre, so buying ten shares means you hold a full acre. 

Most offerings require purchasing up to four acres of shares to open a position.

Some of the investment fees include:

  • Annual servicing fee: 0.75%
  • Selling fee (when the property sells): 5%

These fees are similar to other crowdfunded real estate platforms for accredited and non-accredited investors.

Another hidden cost of this crowdfunding platform can be the potential long-term investment commitment of up to 10 years and the lack of secondary trading.

Once you’ve invested in an offering, you can’t pull your money out if a more lucrative opportunity arises since there is no secondary market.

Investing in farmland can be less volatile than stocks. However, it lacks the flexibility to redeem your shares early for assets with higher growth potential. 

AcreTrader Returns

Farmland returns

Investors can anticipate earning an annual cash yield dividend from 3% to 6%. Cash dividends are distributed in December and are subject to income taxes. 

The platform estimates an average net annual return of 6% to 9%. That said, you may not realize your actual return until the platform sells the farm.

Projected annual yields err on the side of caution since the historical rate of return for farmland investing is approximately 12%. AcreTrader states they have smaller projected returns due to lower commodity prices and conservative underwriting.

According to AcreTrader, annualized returns on select projects have been as high as 15%. So, it’s possible to outperform the historical return under ideal conditions.

AcreTrader Pros and Cons

These are the positives and negatives of investing in farmland through AcreTrader.

Pros

  • Invest in farmland and timber
  • Unique alternative to traditional real estate investing
  • Holdings across the United States
  • Can attend pre-funding webinars
  • Self-directed IRAs and taxable accounts available

Cons

  • Dividends are distributed once a year
  • No secondary marketplace
  • Accredited investors only

AcreTraderDisclosure: “This is a sponsored promotion for the AcreTrader platform. Well Kept Wallet may have investments in companies represented on the AcreTrader platform. This informational article is by no means a promotion, solicitation, or recommendation of any specific investment.”

What is FarmTogether?

FarmTogether home page

FarmTogether provides multiple opportunities to invest in farmland for accredited and international investors from Financial Action Task Force (FATF) countries. This platform was founded by agricultural finance experts.

The site currently only offers the ability to invest in land growing permanent and row crops.

Investment minimums can be as low as $15,000 per crowdfunded offering. However, you can access specialized offerings if you invest $100,000 or more.

This lets you have a permanent investment horizon or direct ownership.

FarmTogether’s extensive personalization is one of the best reasons to consider using this crowdfunding platform if you’re flush with cash and want to acquire a sizable position in farming.

Read our FarmTogether review.

How Does FarmTogether Work?

FarmTogether available offerings

You can join FarmTogether to browse the available and previous offerings. Taxable accounts and or a self-directed IRA are supported.

FarmTogether focuses on farmland investments in:

  • California
  • Illinois
  • Nebraska
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Washington

You must be comfortable investing in a company that only provides exposure to row crops and permanent crops.

The platform aims to launch at least one offering per month. This fundraising frequency is slower than AcreTrader.

Additionally, your investment options depend on how much you’re willing to invest. 

While you can invest in individual properties or crowdfunded projects, there isn’t a secondary market and you must hold until the platform decides to exit the investment.

Crowdfunded Farms

FarmTogether crowdfunding

Most offerings have crowdfunded shares. This deal structure is similar to AcreTrader and other investments for accredited investors. 

The minimum investment starts at $15,000, but it can be higher depending on the investment opportunity.

Most offerings have a target holding time of seven to 10 years. Once again, this approximate investment horizon is similar to other crowdfunded real estate offerings.

Investors will find many details on the investment page, including:

  • Farm overview
  • Operator history
  • Investment Deep Dive pre-investment video
  • Value Drivers (what FarmTogether likes most)
  • Financial summary
  • Risk ratings
  • Investment-specific FAQs

The cash yields can be from 2% to 12%, depending on the offering’s risk level and long-term potential. 

Sustainable Farmland Fund

FarmTogether sustainable farmland fund

The Sustainable Farmland Fund requires a minimum investment of $100,000. It also doesn’t have a target holding period. 

As a result, you can potentially hold this position for a lifetime but also maintain more flexibility with selling your shares since the fund termination date is open-ended. 

This fund has more inherent risk than crowdfunded investments since the offerings can use debt financing to optimize potential investment returns. Its target leverage loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is up to 30% of the property appraisal value.

The target annual distribution yield is up to 6%. Unfortunately, this isn’t as high as some of the crowdfunded offerings available.

The fund’s target asset allocation for crops includes:

  • 50% tree nuts
  • 25% tree fruit
  • 15% citrus
  • 10% row crops

This fund emphasizes permanent crops as they tend to have higher annual yields than row crops.

Another key difference with this farmland investment option is the ability to invest in multiple properties since it’s a managed fund. While you have a higher investment minimum, you can get an instantly diversified portfolio.

The minimum investment is two years before you have withdrawal rights. There are quarterly selling limits once the lockup period ends.

Plus, you can receive help building your portfolio.

Bespoke Offerings

FarmTogether Bespoke offerings

If you have at least $3 million in assets ready to invest in farming, you can schedule a call so that FarmTogether can help you build a curated portfolio.

Some of the customization options include:

  • 1031 Exchange
  • Leverage debt
  • Organic or regenerative farmland

How Investors Make Money

Investors earn income from lease agreements as tenants pay rent. Farming revenues from successful harvests may also be split with investors. These yields are part of the target net cash yield.

Property appreciation can even boost the annualized average return. However, these profits are not realized until the project terminates and FarmTogether liquidates all outstanding shares.

The cash investment gains are distributed quarterly, semi-annually or annually into investors’ bank accounts. Distribution frequencies depend on the offering agreement.

Risk Rewards Spectrum

FarmTogether risk evaluation

Each crowdfunded offer on FarmTogether includes a risk rating and farmland investment potential. 

Most either rank as:

  • Low risk and lower returns
  • Medium risk and higher returns

There are several factors that determine the rating, including the crop type, water rights and operating structure.

How Much Does FarmTogether Cost?

FarmTogether is free to join, but you will incur several one-time and ongoing fees on your invested cash.

The fees vary by offering, but here are estimates for crowdfunded offerings:

  • Up to 2% upfront fee on new investments
  • 1% annual servicing fee (or higher)
  • Up to 5% of net operating income
  • Up to 1% selling fee

Additional fees can apply to the Sustainable Fund and Bespoke offerings, including acquisition and incentive fees. Future funding rounds may also be necessary, but you can voluntarily add new contributions after the initial investment.

The investment minimums differ by offering type and can include:

  • Crowdfunded offerings: $15,000
  • Sustainable Fund: $100,000
  • Bespoke offerings: $3 million

FarmTogether Returns

The annual net cash yield is between 2% and 12% from rent and crop income. Permanent crops tend to have higher target yields than row crops.

After factoring in land appreciation, the target annualized return is from 6% to 12%.

These returns can be higher than AcreTrader since the platform appears to be more receptive to leveraged offerings. While these deals can have higher yields, they can also carry more risk.

FarmTogether Pros and Cons

If you still aren’t sure whether or not FarmTogether is the right platform for you, these pros and cons could help you decide.

Pros

  • Individual offerings and managed funds
  • Evergreen funds with flexible commitments
  • Permanent and row crops
  • Self-directed IRAs and taxable accounts are available

Cons

  • No timberland investing
  • Can only invest if you are an accredited investor
  • One listing per month

Summary

If you want an alternative to investing in traditional real estate, you can successfully invest in farmland through AcreTrader and FarmTogether. The better option for you depends on your investment objectives and cash balance.

AcreTrader only offers individual deals but provides row crops, permanent crops, and timberland. Its minimum investment can be as low as $10,000, and you can anticipate new deals on a weekly basis.

FarmTogether may only offer one new deal per month and has a higher investment minimum of $15,000. The Sustainable Fund is an easy way to diversify your portfolio, and the individual offers can provide higher returns for aggressive investors.