Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Interim Financial Information
Interim Financial Information
Our interim financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain disclosures accompanying annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP are omitted. In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring accruals, necessary for the fair statement of financial statements for the interim period have been included. The interim financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 21, 2017 (the “Form 10-K”). The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for other interim periods or for the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Reclassifications
Certain line items on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016, have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously-reported stockholders’ equity, net income or net change in cash and cash equivalents.
Non-controlling Interests
Non-controlling Interests
Non-controlling interests are interests in the Operating Partnership not owned by us. We evaluate whether non-controlling interests are subject to redemption features outside of our control. As of both March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the non-controlling interests in the Operating Partnership are redeemable at the option of the holder for cash or, at our election, shares of our common stock and thus are reported in the equity section of the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet but separate from stockholders’ equity. The amounts reported for non-controlling interests on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations represent the portion of income from the Operating Partnership not attributable to us. At the end of each reporting period, we determine the amount of equity (at book value) that is allocable to non-controlling interests based upon the respective ownership interests. To reflect the non-controlling interests' equity interest in the Company, an adjustment is made to non-controlling interests, with a corresponding adjustment to paid-in capital, as reflected on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity.
Critical Accounting Policies
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make judgments that are subjective in nature in order to make certain estimates and assumptions, and the application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment regarding the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties. A summary of our significant accounting policies is provided in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K. There were no material changes to our significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2017.
Recently-Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently-Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business" ("ASU 2017-01"), which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting, including acquisitions and disposals. ASU 2017-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We have early adopted ASU 2017-01, effective October 1, 2016. As a result of our adoption of ASU 2017-01, we anticipate that most of our farmland acquisitions will be treated as asset acquisitions under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 360, which will result in a lower amount of acquisition-related costs being expensed on our condensed consolidated statements of operations, as the majority of those costs will be capitalized and included as part of the fair value allocation of the purchase price.
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05, "Other Income—Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets" ("ASU 2017-05"). ASU 2017-05 clarifies the scope of the FASB's recently-established guidance on nonfinancial asset derecognition, which applies to the derecognition of all nonfinancial assets and in-substance nonfinancial assets. In addition, ASU 2017-05 clarifies the accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets and in-substance nonfinancial assets to align with the new revenue recognition standard. ASU 2017-05 can be adopted using either a full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the guidance is effective. ASU 2017-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted, and must be adopted in conjunction with the new revenue recognition guidance. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of ASU 2017-05 on our consolidated financial statements.