It Takes How Much Water to Grow an Almond?! {very, very large images}

[proverbialwisdom]

7. Via Robyn O'Brien: Half of U.S. Farmland Being Eyed by Private Equity

From: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-OBrien/93865123205

http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/02/half-u-s-farmland-eyed-private-equity/

Half of U.S. Farmland Being Eyed by Private Equity

By Carey L. Biron

WASHINGTON, Feb 19 2014 (IPS) - An estimated 400 million acres of farmland in the United States will likely change hands over the coming two decades as older farmers retire, even as new evidence indicates this land is being strongly pursued by private equity investors.

Mirroring a trend being experienced across the globe, this strengthening focus on agriculture-related investment by the private sector is already leading to a spike in U.S. farmland prices. Coupled with relatively weak federal policies, these rising prices are barring many young farmers from continuing or starting up small-scale agricultural operations of their own.

"This is no longer necessarily about food at all, but rather is a way to reap financial profits."
-- Anuradha Mittal

In the long term, critics say, this dynamic could speed up the already fast-consolidating U.S. food industry, with broad ramifications for both human and environmental health.

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