Permanent cropland, found predominately in the Pacific West, growing orchards and vineyards of almonds, grapes, walnuts and other such permanent crops, had an 8% return in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to annual cropland’s 1.2% return, according to a Jan. 20 report from the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF). Annual cropland refers to land used to grow such crops as cotton, corn, wheat and soybeans that are harvested annually.

NCREIF says…