Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Obligations
In connection with a lease amendment we executed on one of our Oregon farms in May 2017, we committed to provide up to $1.8 million of capital for anticipated improvements on the farm, including irrigation upgrades and the planting of new blueberry bushes, which improvements are expected to be completed by December 31, 2020. As stipulated in the lease amendment, we will begin earning additional rent on the cost of the improvements as the funds are disbursed by us at an initial annual rate of 6.5%, which rate is subject to annual escalations and market resets. As of December 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $921,000 related to this project.
In connection with the lease we executed upon our acquisition of our two North Carolina farms in June 2017, we committed to provide up to $300,000 of capital to support additional plantings and infrastructure on the farm, which improvements are expected to be completed by June 30, 2019. As stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rent 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 lease). As of December 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $166,000 related to this project.
In connection with the lease we executed upon our acquisition of a 361-acre farm in California in August 2017, we committed to provide up to $4.0 million of capital to fund the development of additional vineyard acreage on the farm, which development is expected to be completed by March 31, 2020. As stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rent on the total cost of the improvements as the funds are disbursed by us at an initial annual rate of 6.0%, which is subject to annual escalations. As of December 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $1.5 million related to this project.
In connection with a lease amendment we executed on one of our Oregon farms in May 2018, we committed to provide up to approximately $250,000 of capital for certain irrigation improvements on the farm, which are expected to be completed by June 30, 2019. As a result of this project, the lease amendment provides for additional, fixed rental payments that are subject to annual escalations. As of December 31, 2018, we have expended or accrued approximately $30,000 related to this project.
In connection with the lease we executed upon our acquisition of five farms totaling 5,630 acres in Collier and Hendry Counties, Florida, in July 2018, we committed to provide up to $2.0 million of capital for certain irrigation improvements on the farms throughout the term of the lease, which expires on June 30, 2025. While no specific plans for such improvements have been developed yet, if and when any capital is deployed by us, as stipulated in the lease agreement, we will earn additional rent 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 lease). To date, we have not expended or accrued anything related to this project.
Ground Lease Obligations
In connection with two farms acquired on June 1, 2017, through a leasehold interest, we assumed two ground leases under which we are the lessee (with the State of Arizona as the lessor). During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded lease expense (included within Property operating expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations) of approximately $48,000 and $31,000, respectively, as a result of these ground leases. Future minimum lease payments due under the terms of these leases as of December 31, 2018, are as follows (dollars in thousands):
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
Estimated Minimum
Lease Payments Due(1)
2019
 
$
47

2020
 
47

2021
 
47

2022
 
30

2023
 
30

Thereafter
 
31

 
 
$
232

(1) 
Annual lease payments are set at the beginning of each year to then-current market rates (as determined by the State of Arizona). The amounts shown above represent estimated amounts based on the lease rates currently in place .
Litigation
In the ordinary course of business, we may be involved in legal proceedings from time to time. We are not currently subject to any material known or threatened litigation.