Abstract
The ownership of agricultural land has important implications for food systems, the environment, farmer livelihoods, and rural economies, communities, and landscapes. This article examines the changing ownership of agricultural lands in the United States, specifically focusing on Oregon, a state with a history of family farm ownership. I first review historical and recent trends in farmland ownership, including private enclosure, consolidation, investor purchase, development, and rising farmland prices. Next, I examine the county records for all Oregon farm properties that sold between 2010 and 2015. I provide summary statistics about the volume and pace of transactions, price per acre, and the type of owner. I also offer brief cases on top purchasers, attempting to understand their intentions with the farm properties. The findings demonstrate a rapid turnover in Oregon farmland and high prices, though that varies across the state. Agricultural corporations, investment companies, and real estate and development interests are buying large amounts of farmland. I conclude by offering reflections on the implications of the changing ownership and direction for further research.
Highlights
Farmers and food systems activists activists have have suggested suggested that that major major changes changes to to farmland farmland ownership ownership are are underway underway in inOregon, Oregon, systems based on on their their own own observations and some some anecdotal anecdotal evidence
13,489 farm properties accounting for ~1.2 million acres of farmland were sold in the years 2010–2015 (See Table 1)
The recorded turnover rate lends some credibility to the often-mentioned prediction that over two thirds of farmland is expected to change ownership in the few decades [60], though this study shows that smaller properties are changing ownership more quickly but overall acreage more slowly
Summary
I start by contextualizing recent trends in United States (U.S.). Farmland ownership as influenced by capitalist land ownership practices and farm policy generally favoring the corporate food regime. I review recent farmland trends including consolidation, purchase by investors, development pressure, and rising farmland prices. I provide rationale and context for focusing on the state of Oregon. In the empirical section of the paper, I present key findings about farmland sales, prices, and buyers. I focus on a few regions where interesting pattern emerge, and I identify and describe some of the most influential buyers and their potential motivations. I interpret these trends in terms of their impact on farming and rural communities and suggest implications for the future of agriculture
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