​Raptor Ag looks to leverage its scale and agronomic expertise, along with benefiting from long-term production contracts, to diversify hazelnut operations. Grower prices in Chile and Italy have been up to 260% higher than Oregon - a shocking difference. Raptor Ag sees hazelnut production contract pricing as an important tool to ensure industry success.
 
EDMOND, Okla., Nov. 2, 2023 – Raptor Ag, LLC, is pleased to announce major growth initiatives in its hazelnut operations. The company has agreed to form joint ventures in Chile and Italy – both major hazelnut growing regions – to duplicate the large-scale developments and exceptional yields Raptor Ag has achieved in the United States. One of Raptor Ag’s responsibilities in both joint ventures is to direct farming operations and manage agronomic strategies. 
 
In Chile, Raptor Ag partnered with AgroAgama – a Chilean farm management company formed by U.S. based Agama Partners – to form Raptor Ag Chile. AgroAgama already has approximately 600 hectares (1500 acres) of hazelnuts under management, giving Raptor Ag Chile an immediate foothold in the country. Raptor Ag Chile is currently completing diligence and investor pairing opportunities on approximately 700 hectares (1730 acres) of hazelnut orchard acquisitions, along with considering opportunities to lease or custom manage several thousands more hectares of mostly hazelnuts, with some other tree crops.
 
“When it comes to hazelnuts in Chile, our agronomic team views the northern growing region of Chile as possibly the best climate in the world for maximizing hazelnut yields and the species’ genetic potential,” said Chris Eubanks, CEO and Partner of Raptor Ag. “The best growers in Chile are already achieving yields far higher than the average for any country in the world. And the orchards we’re looking to acquire, which all havegreat soil and water, come with existing production contracts. These contracts help moderate the risk and volatility we’ve recently seen in hazelnut markets. Quality farmland in Chile is also more affordable than the U.S.
 
“Additionally, Raptor Ag, with assistance from AgroAgama, lobbied U.S. senators this summer to ratify the income tax treaty that was signed 13 years ago but had not been ratified by Congress. Within weeks of our lobbying efforts, the treaty was approved and cleared for ratification, which passed by a vote of 95-2. The president is expected to sign it. The treaty provides numerous benefits to U.S. companies doing business in Chile, including reducing or eliminating taxation by both countries.”
 
In Italy, Raptor Ag partnered with Wollstone Capital to form Wollstone Raptor Ag. Recently, Wollstone Capital secured a 15-year off-take contract with a leading confectionary company for the development of 1500 hectares (3700 acres) in Italy. The contract will be implemented by Wollstone Raptor Ag. Prior to forming the JV, Wollstone Capital had already started ground preparation for initial plantings. 
 
“We also really like the opportunity in Italy,” Eubanks said. “Farmland affordability, no corporate income tax, and an educated workforce can provide a great business environment for hazelnut growers. The lengthy production contract also virtually assures profitability. For central Italy, we also believe the growing environment is better than Oregon – more direct sunlight hours, similar temperatures and a drier harvest season. 
 
“Raptor Ag has already seen consistent ‘paid’ yields up to 4500-5500 lbs/acre (4490-6175 kg/ha) in its Oregon operation and on farms in Chile, and there is no reason why we can’t duplicate that success in Italy. It appears the return profile for our investing partners - both current and future investing partners - in both Chile and Italy can be more attractive than U.S. hazelnut operations, even when grower prices rebound in the U.S.”
 
Raptor Ag sees the off-take agreements with confectionary companies or other buyers as crucial to the future financial success of growers and expansion for the hazelnut industry. In the U.S., hazelnut growers sell their crop to processors, and the grower prices have recently been far below production costs – $.42/lb for Barcelona variety and up to $.54/lb for other varieties. Grower prices so far this year are not much better. Meanwhile, the contracts last season in Chile and Italy paid growers approximately $1.10/lb for Barcelona and $1.40/lb or more for other varieties. While Raptor Ag is committed to its operations in Oregon and is optimistic about the future, the current market situation has caused many growers to remove or abandon their orchards. 
 
“There are orchards all over Oregon’s Willamette Valley right now that owners or operators simply quit managing or removed, because everyone is currently losing money,” Eubanks said. “We believe the market will eventually rebound for U.S. growers, and it appears grower prices have already started improving a bit. But with rapidly increasing costs of labor, equipment and inputs, contract pricing is beneficial to ensure grower profitability, industry expansion, and for buyers to secure consistent supplies. So we believe the off-take agreements offered to growers in other production regions is a savvy business decision by confectionary companies and other hazelnut buyers.”
 
Along with the announcement of Raptors Ag's plans for expanding in Chile and Italy, the company is also pleased to announce an additional $19 million raised over the past 12 months for expansion, primarily for its pecan operation. 
 
Raptor Ag was founded in 2016 and is now the largest hazelnut grower in the United States, with more than 1200 hectares (3000 acres) of hazelnuts under management in Oregon. In the winter of 2017-2018, Raptor Ag planted 404 hectares (1000 acres) of high-density, irrigated hazelnuts, which is the largest planting by a single grower in the North American hazelnut industry history. Additional plantings and acquisitions of established orchards followed. 
 
In 2021, Raptor Ag diversified into pecans in southern Oklahoma, establishing 421 hectares (1040 acres) of high-density, irrigated orchards, which appears to be the largest single-season planting by a grower in the North American pecan industry. By February 2024, Raptor Ag will have a total of 810 hectares (2000 acres) of pecan orchards developed. 
 
Raptor Ag has a talented team of full-time employees that include agronomists, horticulturists, geologists, soil scientists, hydrologists, fabricators and engineers, along with highly experienced farm managers and operators. The company has developed proprietary evapotranspiration models for hazelnuts, utilizes various irrigation and soil moisture monitoring technologies, developed proprietary hedging methods for both hazelnuts and pecans, invented new types of pruning equipment, implements precision ag and sustainability programs, operates its own drone for weekly remote sensing analysis, and more. 
 
For more information on Raptor Ag, including investment opportunities, visit www.RaptorAg.com or contact Chris Eubanks at Chris@RaptorAg.com.

June 21, 2022
By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media
Over the course of a brief two-year period, Oklahoma-based Raptor Ag has completed a series of deals with a range of institutional investors including family investment offices and Raptor Ag, totaling approximately $60 million for the development, or the acquisition, of hazelnut orchards in Oregon, and pecan orchards in southern Oklahoma. To continue reading, CLICK HERE. 

​Raptor Ag is now the largest hazelnut grower in North American and one of the largest pecan growers east of New Mexico
 
EDMOND, Okla., June 17, 2022 – Over the past two years, Raptor Ag, LLC, has completed a series of transactions totally approximately $60 million for the acquisition and/or development of hazelnut orchards in Oregon and pecan orchards in southern Oklahoma. The acquisitions and development have been funded by a variety of entities – institutional investors, family investment offices and Raptor Ag. 
 
In Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Raptor Ag has now built the largest hazelnut orchard position in the North American industry – more than 3,000 acres. Of that acreage position, approximately 2,000 acres are in production. Raptor Ag continues to evaluate properties to grow that business.  
 
In Oklahoma, Raptor Ag targeted a specific region (for desired climate and water resources) and purchased 1,300 tillable acres in 2021. Of that acreage, Raptor Ag was able to plant 1,040 high-density acres in January and February, all under drip line fertigation. The remaining acreage will be planted in January 2023, and the company hopes to continue developing more pecan orchards in the region. Investors have since partnered with Raptor Ag on a majority of that acreage.
 
“We continue to have strong interest from our investing partners to grow our hazelnut and pecan operations,” said Chris Eubanks, Raptor Ag partner and CEO. “Our business has been fortunate to maintain a healthy growth rate during a challenging labor and supply chain environment. 
 
“With our latest 1,040-acre pecan planting, in the past five years, Raptor Ag has now executed the largest pecan planting in one season by a single grower, according to industry veterans, along with the largest single-season hazelnut planting in that industry’s history – 1,000 acres in the winter of 2017-18.

“This amazing growth is a testament to our team and the vast amount of experience, skill and hard work they’ve put into our various projects over the past several years. Raptor Ag continues to be very optimistic in the tree nut market, as the desire for plant-based protein and healthy fats gain popularity.” 
 
Raptor Ag, based in Edmond, Okla., was founded in 2016 by Eubanks, Dustin Faulkner and Jason Perkins, with the goal of becoming North America’s largest hazelnut producer. It has since diversified into pecans and is considering expansion into other permanent and annual crops. 
 
Raptor Ag subscribes to intensive management strategies and focuses on high-quality ground with substantial water rights. All its orchards are managed on a drip line fertigation program. The company employees a fulltime operations staff, with field offices near Corvallis, Ore.; Crabtree, Ore.; and Marietta, Okla. 

July 27, 2020
By Lynda Kiernan, Global AgInvesting Media
Oklahoma-based Raptor Ag announced the successful raising of $27.3 million in funding to further support the company as it reaches its goal of becoming the largest operator of hazelnut orchards in North America by the spring of 2021. 
This capital was raised through multiple channels. The company closed on a financial arrangement with an institutional investor totaling $19.8 million in November 2019,  and recently closed on an additional $7.5 million through a round of funding backed by a single investment firm.

The read the entire article CLICK HERE.

​EDMOND, Okla., July 20 - Raptor Ag, LLC, recently closed a series of financing transactions totaling $7.5 million for its Oregon hazelnut operations. This round of funding, which comes from one investment firm, is earmarked for the acquisition and development of approximately 347 tillable acres, 120 of which are in producing hazelnut orchards. The balance of the acreage will be planted this winter. 
 
Raptor Ag, based in Edmond, Okla., was founded in 2016 by Chris Eubanks, Dustin Faulkner and Jason Perkins. With today’s announcement, the company has acquired approximately 2,000 tillable acres in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and all the acres are in established, except for about 140 acres scheduled to be planted this fall. 
 
Raptor Ag focuses on high-quality ground with water rights. All its orchards are managed on a drip line fertigation program. The company has a full-time staff, with its operations office near Corvallis, Ore. More information can be found at RaptorAg.com. 

EDMOND, Okla., July 1 - ​Raptor Ag, LLC, recently completed an investment arrangement with an institutional investor totaling $19.8 million. The deal – completed November 2019 – allows Raptor Ag to further grow its Oregon hazelnut operations. 
 
Raptor Ag, based in Edmond, Okla., was founded in 2016 by Chris Eubanks, Dustin Faulkner and Jason Perkins, with the goal of becoming North America’s largest hazelnut producer. The company has acquired 1,800 tillable acres in Oregon’s Willamette Valley through purchases and long-term leases. A vast majority of all the company’s tillable acreage has been developed.
 
Raptor Ag has another 303 tillable acres under contract, with 175 of those acres in producing hazelnut orchards. Additionally, the company is actively evaluating approximately 520 tillable acres, some of which has producing orchards. 
 
Raptor Ag focuses on high-quality ground with water rights. All its orchards are managed on a drip line fertigation program. The company has a full-time staff, with its operations office near Corvallis, Ore. More information can be found at RaptorAg.com.

Consumers are increasingly discovering the health benefits of tree nuts. Tree nuts, as a whole, are high in protein, healthy fats and other macro and micro nutrients. In 2018, BBC ranked almonds as the healthiest food in the world and walnuts at number 46. Hazelnuts, which are more of a niche product, were apparently not included in the survey. When compared to all other major tree nuts, hazelnuts are comparable to almonds in total health benefits. 

Here are a few recent articles on the health benefits of hazelnuts:
- Health Journal
- Healthline
​- Medical News Today
- Livestrong
- Stylecraze
- Medical Daily
- Reader's Digest
​

A recent article published on www.usmagazine.com recently listed the most popular condiment in each state. Hazelnut-chocolate spread Nutella was the number one condiment in four states - Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia. In those states, Nutella beat out ketchup, peanut butter, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and all other condiments. Read the article here. 

Oklahoma-based Raptor Ag announced late last month that it successfully raised $25 million in capital from private equity, family offices, and individual investors to fund the acquisition and development of hazelnut orchards in Oregon.

Read the rest of article in Global AgInvesting ...

EDMOND — If you like a popular protein spread that combines hazelnuts and chocolate, here's something sweet to know.
Raptor Ag, a firm based in Oklahoma, plans to grow its way into U.S. hazelnut production in a big way.
The company announced in late June it has raised $25 million from individuals, family offices, small private equity shops and other sources to acquire existing hazelnut orchards and to start new ones in Oregon's Willamette Valley. 

View complete article ...