AcreTrader vs Farmland Partners

Farmland Partners Overview

Farmland Partners is best suited for investors who want investors seeking liquid farmland exposure through publicly traded equity with dividend income, those wanting diversified agricultural real estate without accreditation barriers, and individuals looking for inflation-hedging alternative assets. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Farmland Partners manages Portfolio of ~125,200 acres (as of Q3 2025) in assets.

Farmland Partners is open to all investors regardless of accreditation status. The platform offers a secondary market for early liquidity and requires manual investment selection.

Key Strengths:

• Publicly traded on NYSE with high liquidity - buy/sell shares daily at market prices
• No accreditation requirements - open to all investors
• Diversified farmland portfolio across 15+ states
• Dividend yield of approximately 3.2% with quarterly distributions

Key Drawbacks:

• Stock price volatility - 1-year return of -3.78% shows price fluctuations
• Dividend not fully covered by earnings (payout ratio 348%), though covered by cash flow
• Agriculture sector dependent on commodity prices and weather conditions

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AcreTrader Overview

AcreTrader is best suited for investors who want accredited investors seeking diversified farmland exposure through a passive online platform, with moderate to long-term investment horizon and comfort with illiquid assets. The platform, AcreTrader has built a growing investor base.

With a minimum investment of $10K, AcreTrader requires accredited investor status. The platform does not currently offer a secondary market and requires manual investment selection.

Key Strengths:

• Low minimum investment compared to direct farmland ($10,000+)
• Passive investment - AcreTrader handles all farm management and operations
• Strong historical returns (6-14% annually on permanent crops, IRRs reaching 30%+ in some cases)
• Diversification across multiple properties and crop types

Key Drawbacks:

• Requires accredited investor status (net worth or income restrictions)
• Illiquid investment - long hold periods typical
• Relatively new platform with most offerings not yet at end of hold period - limited full-cycle performance data

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Fees & Costs

Farmland Partners carries a fee rating of 5.0/5, with fees structured as: N/A - Publicly traded REIT; N/A - Publicly traded REIT; Performance: N/A - Publicly traded REIT. AcreTrader scores 2.5/5 on fees, charging: 0.75% annual servicing fee; 2-5% upfront closing costs; Performance: 5% upon sale of shares.

Edge: Farmland Partners. Lower cost structure gives investors more of their returns.

Minimum Investment

Farmland Partners requires N/A to get started, while AcreTrader requires $10K. AcreTrader's lower minimum makes it more accessible for new investors.

Edge: AcreTrader. Lower barrier to entry.

Accreditation Requirements

Farmland Partners does not require accreditation. AcreTrader requires accreditation.

Edge: Farmland Partners. Open to all investors.

Liquidity

Farmland Partners offers liquid investments with a secondary market. AcreTrader provides illiquid investments.

Edge: Farmland Partners. Better liquidity options.

Ease of Use

Farmland Partners scores 4.5/5 for ease of use. AcreTrader scores 4.0/5 and also has a mobile app.

Edge: Farmland Partners. Better overall user experience.

Transparency

Farmland Partners earns a 4.5/5 transparency rating. AcreTrader scores 3.8/5.

Edge: Farmland Partners. More transparent reporting and disclosures.

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Who Should Choose Farmland Partners?

Farmland Partners is the better choice if you:

• Are comfortable with a N/A minimum investment
• Are a non-accredited investor looking for access to alternatives
• Want exposure to diversified real estate portfolios
• Prefer to hand-pick your investments
• Value the option to sell holdings before maturity

Who Should Choose AcreTrader?

AcreTrader is the better choice if you:

• Are comfortable with a $10K minimum investment
• Meet accredited investor requirements and want institutional-quality deals
• Want exposure to specific real estate deals or projects
• Prefer to hand-pick your investments

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Verdict

Winner: Farmland Partners. With 3.8/5 overall rating versus AcreTrader's 3.5/5, Farmland Partners edges ahead with better fees. That said, AcreTrader may be the better fit if you specifically need accredited investors seeking diversified farmland exposure through a passive onl.

For most investors exploring alternatives, we recommend starting with Farmland Partners — but consider your specific goals before committing.

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FAQ

Is Farmland Partners or AcreTrader better for beginners?

Both platforms have similar entry points. Additionally, Farmland Partners doesn't require accreditation, making it accessible to more new investors.

Can I use both Farmland Partners and AcreTrader?

Yes. Many alternative investment portfolios benefit from diversification across platforms. Farmland Partners and AcreTrader overlap in some asset classes but may offer different deal structures, fee models, and investment approaches.

Which platform has better returns?

Historical returns vary by specific investment and time period. Farmland Partners has a higher overall rating, but past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Both platforms provide different risk-return profiles depending on the specific offerings you choose.

Are Farmland Partners and AcreTrader safe?

Both platforms are legitimate, regulated investment services. Farmland Partners is regulated by SEC, NYSE. AcreTrader is regulated by SEC (Regulation D Rule 506(c)), FINRA, SIPC. As with all alternative investments, there is inherent risk — these are generally illiquid, long-term investments and not FDIC insured.