Outlook 2013: Investors drawn to agriculture

It looks like agriculture is the new gold.

Amid lots of other economic chaos, cropland values in the rich Central Valley soared in 2012, attracting an increasing number of investors looking for a safe bet and decent returns.

Michael Miya ought to know. The Kings County Farm Bureau president not only farms his own land outside Hanford; He also holds a real estate license.

Miya said he’s seen the price of an acre of farmland north of Hanford soar from $8,000-$10,000 an acre 10 years ago to $14,000 to $18,000 now.