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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Bill Gates buys big on a farmland shopping spree |
| 2021-04-11 |
The point about Mr. Gates collecting farmland was recently discussed here. [DW] The third-richest man on the planet, Bill Gates, is also one of the largest private owners of farmland in the US. He is known for supporting environmental innovation, but his farming plans have been secretive until now.In January, US magazine The Land Report — which tracks land transactions and produces an annual list of the 100 biggest US landowners — revealed that Bill and Melinda Gates have one of the largest portfolios of private farmland in the US, with assets totaling more than $690 million (€590 million). The Land Report gives top spot to Liberty Media Chair John Malone, who owns 2.2 million acres (8,094 square kilometers) of ranches and forests. CNN founder Ted Turner ranked third with 2 million acres of ranch land, while Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is in 25th spot with ownership of 420,000 acres, mainly in west Texas. Gates is in 49th spot but rising. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #19 United States of Gates is already importing indentured migrant farm labor. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2021-04-11 16:55 |
| #18 If they pass a wealth tax, I can see the value of this land magically drop. |
| Posted by: Clem 2021-04-11 16:00 |
| #17 Land, farm land, is a great hedge against a falling dollar/inflation too. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2021-04-11 15:18 |
| #16 Re #1 tax dodges, California has the Williamson Act |
| Posted by: Lampedusa Jinetch5613 2021-04-11 13:16 |
| #15 /\ So then it is true, apiculture does take the sting out of taxes. Sweet ! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-04-11 12:33 |
| #14 "Zero taxes"? I doubt it. In Texas people often buy "ranchettes" (5-10 acres) and run a few goats or bees and the taxable value of the land is magically reduced by 98%. A 1/4 acre housing lot in the suburbs is often valued at $30,000. So practically speaking, zero property taxes. Structures are extra. |
| Posted by: Zebulon Jugum1954 2021-04-11 11:38 |
| #13 Gates wants to save the world. I suspect he is trying to automate farming with the goal to use less Human Resources, less water, less damage to land, less fossil fuels... then he will get the GIVERNment to mandate the new approach and put small farmers out of business. See playbook of getting us to electric cars. |
| Posted by: Airandee 2021-04-11 11:19 |
| #12 Right out of Soylent Green... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2021-04-11 11:00 |
| #11 Fiefdoms. USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus Farm Loan Programs |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2021-04-11 10:38 |
| #10 Image result for Bill Gates Arizona land Bill Gates has announced plans to build a smart city outside of Buckeye in Arizona. Through Mt. Lemmon Holdings, the billionaire spent $80 million to purchase more than 24,000 acres of land with plans to build a smart city, which will include housing, schools, offices and retail. Thus far 5,000+ housing units have been approved. |
| Posted by: b 2021-04-11 09:57 |
| #9 "Zero taxes"? I doubt it. Land is taxable, and the rates are not set by any of the bigwigs who own it. Ag land does get preferential low rates, but I haven't read those rates are zero. Too bad the article doesn't mention this. |
| Posted by: Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843 2021-04-11 09:29 |
| #8 #5 China sees the future as USA being a market for Chinese tech and a source of agricultural products. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-04-11 08:02 |
| #7 There have been some discussions here and in other places about the rural/urban split. Often asked is "what will the blue cities do when the red rural farm areas cut them off?". This may be the answer to that question. |
| Posted by: Mercutio 2021-04-11 07:49 |
| #6 ..well, they're not making more of it, except maybe Hawaii and Iceland. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2021-04-11 07:34 |
| #5 Land is the only real wealth? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2021-04-11 06:36 |
| #4 There is nothing more terrifying than control of food. After 24 hours, humans will do anything you tell them to get food. |
| Posted by: Chock Unusock9099 2021-04-11 04:12 |
| #3 O beautiful for Oligarchs and myriad schemes for gain For sham election travesties above the looted plain America! America! Gates shed his waste on thee: This joker's pee plus Wokery from sea to poisoned sea! O beautiful for Grifter-Cheats whose imported underclass A thoroughfare for serfdom beats across the wilderness! America! America! God knows it's getting late Reclaim your soul from Thought Control and this new Nightmare State |
| Posted by: Glusose McCoy3581 2021-04-11 03:46 |
| #2 FRY THIS .0001% er, BILLIONAIRE, 3rd richest in the WORLD! Cut him off from his nutty plans for the World ____ As Bill Gates sees it_____ Investigate him for MENTAL ILLNESS ---- Napoleonic Complex ---- Harm to Others ---- because he is ULTRA-RICH, he thinks he can not be touched by LAW |
| Posted by: Glusosing Wheregum9434 2021-04-11 02:41 |
| #1 There must be a tax shelter angle at work here. In California at least, there's an "agricultural exemption" for "working farms" ... the Forbes spawn, Hearst, other wealthy families have exploited this for years to shelter their billions from taxes. Put a few cattle on your 10,000 acres, play Marie Antoinette on her little farm, and you've just slashed your taxes to zero. |
| Posted by: Titus Forkbeard6217 2021-04-11 02:18 |