Agricultural Land Values Research Articles

How spatial differences in climate affect agricultural land values in New Zealand

How spatial differences in climate affect agricultural land values in New Zealand

Legal support of cadastral value of agricultural land: problems and solutions

Land is a unique and irreplaceable natural resource. Therefore, it is always in the center of interests of the state. Purpose - methods of normative-legal regulation of pricing in the land legislation of Kazakhstan are investigated, factors determining the mechanism and cost of the right to use agricultural land are systematized, new approaches to their assessment are shown. Methods - monographic was used in the study of the current state of the land fund, detection of shortcomings, ranking of world experience in establishing the cadastral value of land, statistical-economic and analytical - to obtain the necessary information, abstract-logical, on the basis of which proposals and recommendations were developed. Results - the measures to control the estimated value of agricultural land have been substantiated. Potential threats leading to the loss of land use rights were identified. Conclusions - prices for land plots in the republic started to be formed since 2003, after the transition to private ownership. A number of legislative documents were adopted to involve them in the market turnover. The Land Code is assigned to immovable property and is under state registration. Initially, the payment for agricultural land was formed on the primary market, the state regulated the rates. For 21 years, the prime rates for land have not changed. During cadastral valuation it is necessary to recalculate the prime rate and take into account socio-economic, riscoecological, climatic conditions. This, in turn, requires improvement of agricultural land rates, assessment indices. Since the Republic of Kazakhstan has switched to a digital format of keeping the land cadastre, it is necessary to compile a map of prices of land plots cost in the context of regions and conduct their continuous monitoring.

The capitalization of property rights to groundwater

AbstractThere is limited empirical evidence on the value of formal property rights to natural resources when they are not transferable, and there is regulatory uncertainty about enforcement. This paper takes a hedonic approach to understanding how three core features of groundwater property rights—access, allocation, and seniority—are capitalized into agricultural land values in the High Plains Aquifer region of Kansas. We find that groundwater access rights confer an average land value premium of 71%, or $1445/acre in 2019 dollars. Water rights having larger allocations and more seniority are more highly valued in the land market. The seniority effect is small but is consistent with more junior rights facing greater regulatory risk of curtailment. Taken together, these results suggest that the land market capitalizes constraints to groundwater pumping provided by groundwater property rights. We use our empirical estimates to quantify the distributional costs of modifying existing patterns of pumping, a common challenge of groundwater management organizations seeking to improve the sustainability of extraction.

Upscaling ecological restoration by integrating with agriculture

Transformative change is needed to align common small‐scale ecological restoration approaches with expectations to restore millions of hectares of degraded lands globally. Currently, most restoration projects target small areas using costly manual methods that cannot be scaled up to meet global commitments. We propose that a judicious integration of agricultural practices into ecological restoration offers an opportunity to address this issue. This transformative process relies on three sequential and interconnected steps: (1) ensure that sufficient land is truly available for restoration; (2) compensate for the loss of agricultural production, income, or land value to encourage landholders to opt for restoration; and (3) develop scalable, affordable, and effective methods for restoring native ecosystems across the pledged hundreds of millions of hectares to deliver benefits to both nature and people. Large‐scale terrestrial restoration will require incorporating agronomic practices into the restoration toolbox to go beyond vague, ambitious promises and wishful thinking.

Estimando el efecto del clima en la agricultura con el valor productivo de la tierra agrícola

Objective: the Ricardian model, in which market land values are modeled as a function of climate, has been estimated extensively in the context of developing countries where its core assumptions are likely to fail due to missing or incomplete markets. This article proposes a new measure of land valuation that better reflects agricultural productivity in such contexts: the Productive Value of Agricultural Land (PVAL). Methodology: a three-step empirical strategy is applied to data from a survey of Mexican rural households. The first step is the estimation of an agricultural production function. In the second step, parameter estimates are used to calculate PVAL. In the third step, PVAL is used as the dependent variable in a Ricardian regression. Results: suggests that PVAL increases with more precipitation and decreases with by extreme heat. When the Ricardian regression is estimated using market land values, the positive effect of precipitation is underestimated and the effect of extreme heat on land productivity is null. Limitations: omitted variables bias could still influence the Ricardian estimates obtained using PVAL. Originality: a novel version of the Ricardian model is estimated, one that does not rely on market values of land. Conclusions: failing to account for the market setting of agricultural producers, particularly in developing countries, may lead to an underestimation of the effects of climate change in agricultural productivity.

One size does not fit all: Differential predation on livestock species by leopards (Panthera pardus) in a multiuse landscape in the gangetic plains, India

There are underlying patterns involved in predation, particularly for an adaptable species like leopard. One of them is size of the prey. The selection of a prey by a carnivore is typically determined by the trade-off between energy spent and gained. Here size becomes even more consequential when conflict is involved, but most studies typically map all species as a single entity at a single spatial scale. This study aimed at understanding the multiscale nature of the conflict based on the size livestock attacked by leopards (large stock − cattle and small stock − goat and sheep). The methodology encompassed targeted sampling which included the collection of the GPS locations of the attack sites. Spatial layers of 14 environmental variables that represented three spatial scales i.e. proximate (cache-distance), local (daily-movement), and landscape (home-range) scale were then created through remotely sensed data. After that Generalized additive models were utilized for analysis, with ΔAIC used for model selection and evaluation was performed via AUC and TSS statistic. Our results indicate a spatial distinction in predation strategies. In the final model the statistically significant variables for large stock included a higher proportion of cover, and a lower proportion of settlements at the home-range scale, very low human population density at daily-movement scale, and NDVI representing moderately dense vegetation and terrain ruggedness index representing flat terrain at cache-distance scale. Similarly, for small stock the variables included a higher proportion of agricultural land and NDVI values representing open terrain. The effective degrees of freedom was higher than 2 for most of the variables, indicating non-linear relationships. We inferred that the leopards’ targeted large stock in more secluded dry deciduous forests farther from human settlements, where they may be found grazing alone. In contrast, smaller stock, being easier to catch, are killed more frequently in rugged terrain across a wider scrub landscape with scantier cover. Consequently, this selective selection based on size might have its basis in the perceived risk of being chased off by people and the reward in terms of the size of the acquired meal.

Bayesian spatial analysis of US agricultural land values

ABSTRACT This study analyses the spatial patterns in agricultural land values using a Bayesian spatial econometrics approach. The model is motivated by land capitalisation theory, which captures the current value of a parcel of farmland as a discounted, future stream of returns associated with its agricultural use and pressures to convert the land. This study extends the land capitalisation model to incorporate variations in neighbouring agricultural lands. The results suggest that farmland prices are subject to spatial connectivities, implying that markets for cropland are highly localised, whereas markets for agricultural commodities are generally global in nature. The estimates imply that changes to neighbouring cropland rental rates and land enrolled in conservation explain about seven percent and eleven percent, respectively, of the variation in local land values.

Predictive modeling of methylmercury in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and species-sensitivity-distribution-based derivation of the threshold of soil mercury in karst mountain areas.

The bioavailable mercury (Hg) in the soil is highly active and can affect the formulation of methyl-Hg (MeHg) in soil and its accumulation in rice. Herein, we predicted the concentration of MeHg in rice using bioavailable Hg extracted from soils; additionally, we determined the threshold value of soil Hg in karst mountain areas based on species sensitivity distribution. The bioavailable Hg was extracted using calcium chloride, hydrochloric acid (HCl), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid mixture, ammonium acetate, and thioglycolic acid. Results showed that HCl is the best extractant, and the prediction model demonstrated good predictability of the MeHg concentration in rice based on the HCl-extractable Hg, pH, and soil organic matter (SOM) data. Compared with the actual MeHg concentration in rice, approximately 99% of the predicted values (n = 103) were within the 95% prediction range, indicating the good performance of the rice MeHg prediction model based on soil pH, SOM, and bioavailable Hg in karst mountain areas. Based on this MeHg prediction model, the safety threshold of soil Hg was calculated to be 0.0936mg/kg, which is much lower than the soil pollution risk screening value of agricultural land (0.5mg/kg), suggesting that a stricter standard should be applied regarding soil Hg in karst mountain areas. This study presents the threshold of soil Hg pollution for rice safety in karst mountain areas, and future studies should target this threshold range.

Dust to Feed, Dust to Gray: The Effect of in Utero Exposure to the Dust Bowl on Old-Age Longevity

Intensive agriculture and deep plowing caused topsoil erosion and dust storms during the 1930s, affecting agricultural income and land values for years. Given the growing literature on the relevance of in utero and early-life exposures, it is surprising that studies focusing on links between the Dust Bowl and later-life health have produced inconclusive and mixed results. We reevaluate this literature and study the long-term effects of in utero and early-life exposure to topsoil erosion caused by the 1930s Dust Bowl on old-age longevity. Specifically, using Social Security Administration death records linked with the full-count 1940 census, we conduct event studies with difference-in-differences designs to compare the longevity of individuals in high- versus low-topsoil-erosion counties before versus after 1930. We find intent-to-treat reductions in longevity of approximately 0.85 months for those born in high-erosion counties after 1930. We show that these effects are not an artifact of preexisting trends in longevity. Additional analyses suggest that the effects are more pronounced among children raised in farm households, females, and those whose mothers had lower education. We also provide suggestive evidence that reductions in adulthood income are a likely mechanism for the effects we document.

Improving the assessment of the cadastral value of agricultural land in green economy conditions

The formation and development of the “green economy” involves changes in methodologies and methods for assessing economic processes and categories. The green economy considers not only economic, but also environmental and social indicators. The article considers that the current methodology for calculating the cadastral value of agricultural land evaluates the economic efficiency of using a land plot, the ecological aspect is considered in a small volume, and there is no social component of land valuation at all. It is revealed that the improvement of the assessment of the agricultural land cadastral value in green economy is to consider new agroecological, anthropogenic, social indicators characterizing land condition and use. It is shown that reliable and timely information about the state of the soil cover of an agricultural land plot should be considered in the transformation of land use types. The ultimate purpose of the study, one of the stages of which are the proposals presented in the article, is to substantiate approaches to improve the state cadastral valuation of agricultural land in the context of green economy development.

ASSESSMENT OF THE MARKET VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

The issues of assessing the market value of agricultural land are considered. The purpose of the study is to analyze the specifics of determining the market value of agricultural land, and the factors affecting their value. Materials and methods. The study used approaches to assessing the market value of agricultural land, the regulatory framework governing the process of determining the market value, as well as the principles that guide the appraiser in determining the value of the object. Study results. The analysis of approaches and methods used in assessing the market value of agricultural land has shown that existing methods do not fully take into account the specifics of the assessed object in terms of determining the risks, which may eventually affect the market value. The market value of an agricultural land plot is influenced to a greater extent by natural factors, on which the efficiency of agricultural production depends, which should be taken into account when determining its value by a profitable approach. The Order of the Ministry of Property of the Russian Federation dated March 6, 2002 № 568-r (as amended on July 31, 2002) "On Approval of Methodological Recommendations for Determining the Market Value of Land Plots" contains instructions on determining the capitalization rate for the method of land rent capitalization and the method of intended use, in which calculation is reduced to doubling the risk-free income rate. As a result, it can be said that natural factors are not taken into account when calculating the market value of agricultural land plots. Based on the analysis, the factors determining the market value of agricultural land plots have been identified, which include the location of the site, its distance from the city, terrain and landscape, availability of communications (gas, water, electricity), the category of the land plot and the ways of its possible use, access roads, etc. Based on the correlation method, the main price-forming factors were determined. These include: the distance to the city (remoteness of the plot), the size of the plot, availability of communications. Conclusions. In addition to the general price-forming factors affecting the market value of agricultural land, natural ones can also be distinguished, on which the efficiency of agricultural production depends, which is used within the framework of a profitable approach.

Long‐term soil organic carbon changes after cropland conversion to grazed grassland in Southern Sweden

AbstractThere is growing awareness of the potential value of agricultural land for climate change mitigation. In Sweden, cropland areas have decreased by approximately 30% over recent decades, creating opportunities for these former croplands to be managed for climate change mitigation by increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. One potential land‐use change is conversion of cropland to grazed grasslands, but the long‐term effect of such change in management is not well understood and likely varies with soil type and site‐specific conditions. Through sampling of mineral and peatland soils within a 75‐year chronosequence of land converted from crop production to grazed grassland, we assessed how time since conversion, catenary position, and soil depth affected SOC storage. The SOC stocks calculated at an equivalent soil or ash mass increased through time since conversion in mineral soils at all topographic positions, at a rate of ~0.65% year−1. Soils at low topographic positions gained the most carbon. Peat SOC stock gains after conversion were large, but only marginally significant and only when calculated at an equivalent ash mass. We conclude that the conversion of mineral soil to grazed grassland promotes SOC accumulation at our sites, but climate change mitigation potential would need to be evaluated through a full greenhouse gas balance.

Analysis and pollution evaluation of heavy metal content in soil of the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan.

This study aims to assess the contamination levels of six heavy metals, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the soil of the Henan Yellow River Wetland Reserve. It seeks to reveal the spatial distribution and trends of heavy metal pollution, providing a scientific basis for the rational utilization and effective protection of soil. Additionally, it aims to propose targeted management and remediation recommendations to mitigate or prevent soil pollution. A total of 706 soil samples were collected in this area in combination with the land use type map. As and Hg were determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Taking the soil pollution risk screening value of agricultural land (GB15618-2018) as a reference value, the sample data were statistically analyzed, and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index method combined with ArcGIS technology was used to evaluate the soil environmental quality. The comprehensive pollution index of the soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve was 0.42, ranging from 0.17 to 2.38, which was safe and not polluted (I grade). Out of 706 sampling locations, 674 remained uncontaminated, while 26 exhibited cleanliness. Although they were in the warning line, they did not exceed the standard, accounting for 3.68% of the total number of sampling points. Five sample points were slightly polluted, accounting for 0.71% of the total sample points, and one sample point was moderately polluted, accounting for 0.14% of the total sample points. It can be seen that there are few agricultural land pollution points in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve, and the soil environment quality is generally good. The soil in the Yellow River Wetland Reserve in Henan has a very small amount of mild and moderate pollution, and there is no severe pollution. The cleanliness is currently high.

Effects of Transfer of Land Development Rights on Urban–Rural Integration: Theoretical Framework and Evidence from Chongqing, China

The transfer of land development rights (TDR) is a significant policy tool for advancing urban–rural integration. This study establishes an analytical framework to examine the influence mechanism of TDR on urban–rural integration, considering the flow of land, capital, and population factors. Furthermore, an indicator system is developed to evaluate urban–rural integration across economic, social, and population dimensions. Using panel data from Chongqing, China (2013 to 2019), this article adopts the global principal component analysis (GPCA) method and time-varying difference-in-difference (TV-DID) model to analyze the effects of the land quota trading project, known as the ‘Dipiao’ policy. The results show that TDR can effectively promote urban–rural integration, though with a four-year time lag. Heterogeneous effects of TDR on urban–rural integration are observed across different districts and counties, with the more pronounced promotion in areas characterized by low agricultural land value or high industrial land value. This study further analyzes the influence mechanism of TDR on urban–rural integration. It concludes with policy implications on improving TDR to promote urban–rural integration.

Influential Factors in the Evaluation of Agricultural Lands in the Huambo Province, Angola

The possession and appraisal of agricultural fields have significant economic and social impacts. The objective of this study is to examine the perception of farmers in the Huambo Province, Angola, regarding the characteristics that enhance and diminish the value of agricultural lands in the process of buying and selling. The utilized quantitative methodology is based on a questionnaire administered to farmers in the Huambo Province. The sample size consists of 644 respondents. The results allow us to conclude that the income generated from farming activities and the presence of infrastructure greatly facilitate the appraisal of agricultural fields. Conversely, the absence of legal ownership documentation and conflicts related to land ownership reduce the value of the fields. The exploratory factor analysis identified seven determinant factors, responsible for explaining 61.334% of the total variance, in the appraisal of agricultural fields: inherent location characteristics of the property, market dynamics related to agricultural fields, the availability of water on the property, proximity to tourist destinations, physical conditions of the fields, the positive externalities generated, and the advantages offered by the fields. We believe that this study will assist appraisers, farmers, and public administration in understanding the factors that positively and negatively impact the appraisal of agricultural fields.

Ways to improve land assessment methods in Azerbaijan

Motives: The article examines various approaches to improving the assessment of agricultural land in Azerbaijan. The quality, potential productivity, and normative price (value in monetary terms) of farmland need to be determined to increase production and competitiveness of agricultural products, to establish favourable land relations that meet modern requirements, and to promote efficient land use. The existing methods of assessing the quality and economic value of farmland for the needs of the land cadastre and determining the normative prices of land do not fully correspond to reality. Different and often contradictory approaches to land assessment have been proposed.Aim: The aim of this study was to optimize the methods of assessing the quality and economic value of agricultural land, determining the normative prices of land, and evaluating potential land productivity in view of modern requirements.Results: Improvements in land valuation will promote reliable assessments of agricultural development and the establishment of efficient farming systems; they will improve agricultural land-use efficiency and reliable determination of normative prices in market transactions involving agricultural property. These methods can be widely used to plan agricultural production, evaluate the operations of various types of farms, improve remuneration policies in the farming sector, determine the optimal scope of farming operations in view of natural conditions and economic factors, and resolve other issues to promote the development of agricultural production.

Content, Distribution, Source Analysis, and Risk Assessment of PAHs in Arable Soils of Taiyuan

PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) accumulated in arable soils have significant impacts on farmland quality and human health, which has attracted wide attention from scientists and the public. A total of 22 arable soil samples were collected from Taiyuan, an old industrial city, including three districts (industrial zones, hilly areas, and sewage irrigation area), and the contents of 21 PAHs were detected using the GC-MS method. The sources of PAHs in soils were analyzed using the diagnostic ratios (DRs) method and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and the soil health risks were analyzed using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model. The results indicated that the average concentrations of Σ21PAHs and Σ16PAHs in arable soils of Taiyuan were 934.6 ng·g-1 and 787.7 ng·g-1, respectively, which were lower than the soil pollution risk screening value of agricultural land stipulated in GB 15168-2018. 3-5 rings PAHs were the dominant components, accounting for~90% of the Σ21PAHs. Approximately 60% of sites in industrial zones, 13% in hilly areas, and 33% in the sewage irrigation area had high PAHs contents larger than 1000 ng·g-1. The spatial distribution of PAHs showed that more severe PAHs pollution in the soil occurred in industrial areas than that in the other two districts. The DRs suggested that the combustion of coals, bio-masses, and traffic emissions were the dominant sources for PAHs pollution in arable soils in Taiyuan. The simulation results of the PMF model indicated that the sources and contribution rates of PAHs in cultivated soils were coal and biomass burning sources (59%), traffic sources (22%), and coking sources (19%). The risk assessment confirmed that the arable soils in Taiyuan had high potential carcinogenic risks; thus, more attention should be paid to the PAHs pollutions in arable soils.

Assessment of the Impact of Plastic Recycling on Agricultural Land Prices: A Case Study in Vietnam

Pollution in Minh Khai, Van Lam district is seriously contributed by plastic recycling plants. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of plastic recycling pollution on agricultural land prices in Minh Khai, Van Lam district. Hedonic price analysis was employed in analyzing the data being collected. The results show that crop yield and quality as well as agricultural land prices in the area tend to decrease due to the impact of pollution from plastic recycling. The analysis also showed land prices are positively related to crop yields, soil quality and land size while distance to the highway and quality of the irrigation water are negatively related. Based on the hedonic price method, the research shows that the price of agricultural land increases by 0.97 VND/m2 (USD 0.042 per 1000m2) when away from the plastic recycling area. It is estimated that the value of agricultural land in the district damaged by pollution is about 79 billion VND (3.4 million USD). Therefore, local authorities should implement zoning of production into concentrated areas. Hence, it is possible to invest in pollution treatment and reduce negative impacts on the external environment.

Agricultural land turnover in Ukraine: New challenges and new opportunities

The experience of the market turnover of agricultural land in Ukraine has shown that untimely and insufficiently comprehensive analysis of the functioning of the land market can lead to incorrect conclusions and limit the understanding of its dynamics and impact on the country’s economic situation. The purpose of the study was to identify the main trends and indicators of the market turnover of agricultural land in Ukraine by analysing land ownership transactions. The methodological tools of the problem under study were general scientific and special methods, as well as the method of comparison and abstract and logical methods. The main results of the study are a cost and quantitative assessment of transactions of sale and purchase of ownership rights to agricultural land in Ukraine, which makes it possible to identify the main trends in the land market. Certain provisions can be used to formulate strategies for the development of land relations in Ukraine. The number and share of transactions involving the sale and purchase of ownership rights to agricultural land in the overall structure of transactions is determined. The area of land ownership rights to which were alienated through sale and purchase is determined. The author calculates the value of agricultural land depending on its remoteness from a settlement, regional location and designated purpose. Fluctuations in the value of arable land depending on their territorial location and in the overall dynamics by month are determined. The level of activity of agricultural land market participants in the country as a whole and by regions is determined. The results and trends in the market turnover of agricultural land in the territories where military operations were or are ongoing are investigated. The main key indicators of the market turnover of agricultural land are determined. Forecasts of the value of arable land in Ukraine by the end of 2023 are formed. The discrepancy between the Ukrainian model of agricultural land market turnover and the models operating in the European Union has been established. The results of the study can be used to develop ways to reorient the market turnover of agricultural land to the European principles of functioning aimed at the development of family farming as a fundamental goal of Ukraine’s agricultural policy

Water Market Participation and Agricultural Land Values

Water Market Participation and Agricultural Land Values