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Report: 160,000 Acres Of Local Farmland Are Foreign Owned
August 9, 2010
That all-American farm in your area may not be as American as you think.
According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tens of thousands of acres of farmland — almost 160,000 in all — in the North Escambia area are owned by foreigners.
In Escambia County, there are 56,994 acres of farmland that are foreign-owned — 55,681 of the acres are forestland, 249 acres are classified as other-agricultural uses, and 1,064 are non-ag. Most is owned by interests in the Netherlands (56,745 acres) and Germany (249 acres).
In Santa Rosa County, there are 58,626 acres of farmland that are foreign-owned — 57,414 of the acres are forestland and 1,263 acres are classified as other-agricultural uses.Most is owned by interests in the Netherlands (57,363 acres) and other countries (1,263 acres) not listed in the report.
In Escambia County, Alabama, there are 44,156 acres of farmland that are foreign-owned — 43,191 of the acres are forestland, 947 acres are classified as other-agricultural uses and 18 acres are cropland.Most is owned by interests in the Netherlands (44,138 acres) and Canada (18 acres) not listed in the report.
In Florida, foreigners own 201,213 acres of cropland, 144,353 acres of pasture, 567,825 acres of forest. Over 1,056,681 total acres of farmland are foreign-owned in Florida.
In Alabama, foreigners own of 4,162 cropland, 3,169 acres of pasture, 1,441,911 acres of forest. There are 1,481,520 total acres of farmland that are foreign-owned in Alabama.
Foreign persons held an interest in 22.2 million ares of U.S. agricultural land in the U.S. That represents 1.7 percent of all privately held agricultural land and just under 1 percent of all land in the United States, according to the USDA report.
Pictured top: An American-owned field is cultivated in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
30 Responses to “Report: 160,000 Acres Of Local Farmland Are Foreign Owned”
Your link – not that it is authoritative – doesn’t say anything about shielding corporate taxes in the USA.
You simply made that up.
The Netherlands is home to almost 20,000 ”mailbox companies,” Dutch shorthand for corporate shells set up by foreign companies and wealthy foreigners who use them to relieve taxes on royalties, dividends and interest payments, according to a report last November by SOMO, the Center for Research on Multinational Corporations, a nonprofit group in Amsterdam that monitors the business practices of large companies. Globally, some 1,165 companies use Dutch tax shelters to reduce or eliminate taxes on royalties and patents, according to SOMO.
The report, which is critical of the emergence of the Netherlands as a tax haven, says that the number of mailbox companies ”has been increasing rapidly in recent years” and that the shelters undermine efforts by governments worldwide to ”ensure that a level playing field is created where each country receives the fair taxation due to it as a result of the commercial activities undertaken within its borders.”
Source: http://alturl.com/bnh9t
“The Netherlands is a tax shelter hot spot that will shield the owners from corporate taxes in the USA.”
Not true.
REGARDING:
“Most of the foreign owned land is controlled by corporations registered in the Netherlands.”
So they may not be Dutch? That’s good, I don’t want to have to wear wooden shoes or grow tulips.
Per http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/corporate.html
Corporations and artificial entities that conduct business, or earn or receive income in Florida, including out-of-state corporations, must file a Florida corporate income tax return unless exempt. They must file a return, even if no tax is due.
So they may be exempt elsewhere, but if they earn income in Florida they are not exempt.
Most of the foreign owned land is controlled by corporations registered in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is a tax shelter hot spot that will shield the owners from corporate taxes in the USA. The benefecial owners of the corporation could reside anywhere.
Search Google using these key words for more info: Netherlands tax shelter
REGARDING:
“You can bet your last dollar when you get them set they will chase you out also – even if your family has been there 100 years.”
You believe a person should be able to live on the land he used to own after he sells it even if the new owner objects?
Interesting.
We cannot create more land – we can create labor. Many governments who allow land to be bought can remove those who purchased it easily. Even the African countries who chased the British out after years of planting and feeding them want people to come in as corporations and buy lease/land. You can bet your last dollar when you get them set they will chase you out also – even if your family has been there 100 years.
Often the trouble is not the individual folks who live there but the governments. India has their own Silicon Valley – have you called for help on your computer lately?
We must not get rid of our natural resources so freely – especially our land. Maybe let them lease it for 50 or 100 years but never sell it to those who are not citizens.
(sorry about the misspelling Kurlis, the mind sees what it expects to see, not what is written)
(sorry about the misspelling Kurlis, the mind sees what it expects to see, now what is written)
@oh poo
Well, since David refuted most of your statements…. I’ll just take on the last one…
Quote>”Remember folks
Nothing coming in and everything going out is spelled
B A N K R U P C Y”
I don’t agree with that statement at all. You are totally off base.
Nothing coming in and everything going out is actually spelled….
B A N K R U P T C Y.
just a little food for thought but the dutch are at the forefront of wind powered technology, they may be buying up this land to develop wind farms
REGARDING:
“Wal-Mart sells us all the broken garbage we can put in a shopping cart which mostly comes from other countries, and their not making us products that will last either.”
We decide to buy or not buy. Sam Walton started many American companies because he said he would offer any product made by an American company. Too often there was no such manufacturer or Americans still wouldn’t buy the American made ones either due to cost or quality.
AND:
“So what will we have when none of the land is ours either?”
What makes you think we will ALL sell off? At some point either they will stop buying or we will stop selling. And as Kurt pointed out, the property taxes they pay pay for the things which benefit us.
AND:
“No possibility of food WE CAN AFFORD.”
And yet we grow fatter every year.
AND:
“Remember how Toyota came in here with cars cheap that ran forever. Where are they now?”
The roads are full of them. The prices went up because we quit buying the simple ones, but John’s is over 250 thousand miles, my Isuzu is coming up on 400 thousand miles.
AND:
“California is broke and doesn’t produce anything to bring in money from outside of America.”
Actually, their entertainment industry brings in billions of dollars yearly from overseas for the movies they produce. The farmers from all over are still selling grain and other food to Japan, Korea, Russia, whoever is hungry.
David with rose colored glasses
regarding:
“i WOULD RATHER CUT OFF MY FOOT THAN BUY
SOMETHING WITH A FOREIGN NAME ON IT ESPECIALLY
CHINA.”
Was the computer you typed that statement on made in the United States?
Did the gasoline in your car originate in the United States?
Did the chrome in your stainless steel forks come from Zimbabwe or from Russia?
I read long ago that the Japanese bought much of Hawaii. Don’t know if it is true but it amused me to think what they couldn’t take with bullets they would have handed over to them for dollars.
And most of the land mentioned here was not being bought by the Japanese but the Germans and Dutch. (What’s wrong with us that the Japanese don’t want us?????) Some of my ancestors were German and Daddy told me if he’d had three more days in Shanghai, my mother would have been Chinese. (I don’t know what that means, of course.)
If you lose your land, how much does it matter who wound up with it? Do you really think the foreigners are buying it in preparation to starve us out or enslave us?
Folks say the farmers don’t know how to do anything else so they have to stay on the farms. That’s silly. Farmers know plumbing, heavy equipment operating, wiring, surveying, economics. And if they didn’t know those things or others, they can LEARN. Nobody was born knowing all they do now. People only stop learning when they decide to.
David still wondering at the invaders’ plans
Well we buy mostly foreign products now.
We don’t make much in ameriica anymore so foreigners can’t
buy our goods.
Our grocery stores are huge corporations and there are no mom and
pops out there.
The stations are owned out of the country for the most part.
Walmart sells us all the broken garbage we can put in a shopping
cart which mostly comes from other countries, and their not making
us products that will last either.
So what will we have when none of the land is ours either. No possibility
of food WE CAN AFFORD.
Remember how toyota came in here with cars cheap that ran forever.
Where are they now?
California is broke and doesn’t produce anything to bring in money
from outside of america.
Social Security is broke and we don’t have enough young folks who
want to take care of the old fogies OR have a means to.
We are let’s see ummmm how many trillions in debt to other countries.
Remember folks
Nothing coming in and everything going out is spelled
B A N K R U P C Y!
Foreigners owning land in Escambia County is a good thing. This means foreign money comes into the United States. This is a good thing. This means those property owners pay taxes. This is a good thing.
In short, there isn’t anything wrong with foreigners owning land in Escambia Country or any other county in the United States.
I want foreigners to invest their money in the United States.
Imagine that !!!
David I’m very surprised.
I’m also surprised that you all didn’t know.
Japan has been buying farmland up in america for years,
well really every since farm aide didn’t bail out the farmers
and they were left with no choice.
They were given a large sum of money and allowed to
stay in their home and continue to work the land,
which was the only thing they knew. It’s just now the
land itself is owned by a large japan corporation and the
farmer gets a wage.
You all should have thought about that a long time ago
and bought locally. Think about all of this every time you
go to walmart.
Every time I have to buy something, I make sure there
isn’t one some where made in america.
i WOULD RATHER CUT OFF MY FOOT THAN BUY
SOMETHING WITH A FOREIGN NAME ON IT ESPECIALLY
CHINA.
Try to only buy my fruits and vegies from local small
farms that are not sold.
It is not always possible.
REGARDING:
“Maybe it is time for Americas to seek laws that protect our resources just as other countries currently have in place.”
Interesting thought that we should pattern our laws after places like Mexico, the Philippines and China.
Also interesting to consider the idea of forbidding foreign ownership in the United States. If people could not buy from us with our own money, they would stop taking our worthless money. That means they would stop selling to us those things we had been buying with our money. It would quickly shut down the country since sales include useful things like petroleum. This would mean our cars and trucks would have no fuel. Okay–there would be SOME fuel but nowhere near enough to meet current demand.
Another result would be the shut-down of all the Toyota and Hyundai plants here. This would put the existing American workers out of work. It reminds me of the time Senator Kerry was talking the same thing at a factory somewhere while hoping to be elected President. Nobody told him the factory was owned by some Italian company. The workers knew their jobs would have disappeared if the Italian company hadn’t bought it. Strange that he wasn’t elected with his strong protectionist platform.
At least it would put an end to illegal immigration. After all, if workers couldn’t buy anything with the money they were paid, they wouldn’t pick our fruit or replace our hurricane damaged roofs or all the other jobs they do for the money which would no longer be useful to them.
Are the Dutch really that scary?
I’m kinda surprised at how much cropland in Florida is owned by foreigners. I imagine the bulk of it is citrus land.
Business dealing are one thing with specific laws that govern property ownership and use by corporations and/or businesses. HOWEVER, I believe it wise for Americans to check laws of many foreign countries. There are multiple countries with the following requirement, IF YOU ARE NOT A CITIZEN, you cannot directly own property nor can you operate a business. I do not believe we should allow individuals that are NOT CITIZENS to purchase property or to operate businesses nor should they be allowed to obtain benefits that our taxes pay for.
For example in Mexico, “The Mexican Constitution regulates the ownership of land and declares that …within a zone of 100 kilometers from the border or 50 kilometers from the coast, a foreigner cannot acquire the direct ownership of the land. These areas are known as Restricted or Prohibited Zones. However, the latest Mexican Foreign Investment Law, which was ratified on December 28, 1993, allows a foreigner or foreign corporation to obtain the rights of ownership through a fiduciary trust known as Fidelicomiso, the equivalent of a US beneficiary trust.”
In Canada, “It is important to note, however, that while the majority of Provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick) have no restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate in Canada, some do limit the amount of property/land that a non-resident can purchase. On Prince Edward Island, non-resident buyers must apply to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission for land over 5 acres in size, or land with a shore frontage greater than 165 feet. In Manitoba, non-residents are prevented from owning farmland unless they actually plan to move there within 2 years. Non-residents may not own land over 10 acres in size in Saskatchewan, whilst in Alberta they may only own up to 2 plots of land not exceeding 20 acres in total.”
The Phillipines, “Non-Filipinos don’t have the right to acquire real estate properties in the Philippines. The easiest way for a foreigner to acquire real estate properties is to have a Filipino spouse purchase the property. Having a Filipino partner is also another alternative when acquiring a property. Either both share the property with equal rights, or the partner owns 51% or more and the remainder is owned by the foreigner. Special visas are available for foreigners who want complete and total control of a property. (More information on special visas).
Only Filipino citizens and corporations (at least 60% Philippine-owned) are entitled to acquire land in the Philippines.”
China, “In July 2006, the Chinese government issued rules prohibiting foreign individuals and companies from directly owning commercial real estate in China. Just this month, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) issued new foreign exchange rules.
This rule applies to all of China. The ramifications of this new rule are clear: foreign individuals and foreign companies can buy commercial real estate in China only if they do so in the name of a Chinese corporation (such as a WFOE or JV) established for this purpose. This is a clear and inflexible rule. It also is not actually a change in Chinese law, just a reaffirmation by opinion of what has always been the case.”
Maybe it is time for Americas to seek laws that protect our resources just as other countires currently have in place. \
Just a thought..
America has been selling out and has become more and more entangled.
I’m with Kurtis on this. It isn’t the end of the world for others to own what we are willing to sell them. We own vast amounts of property in other countries, not me personally but Americans do.
I imagine the Canadian property is the McDavid Saw mill.
The Dutch are probably looking for a place to move when their nation gets flooded by rising sea levels. It will be good to have neighbors who plan ahead for a change.
Those who don’t want them to own it are free to buy it back.
David for freedom and private property
Time for American to create laws to protect her citizens. When we get rid of all of our farmland those who have gotten wealthy from us – such as the oil producing nations – can starve us. Of course, we would bow to them to feed our children.
They should not be allowed to own the land over a few years. Also no one should be able to become a citizen unless they live here seven years, speak our language and give up their citizenship of another country.
Kurtis: Are you serious?????? Maybe a little research would do you some good.
Netherland,Canada,Germany……….Better than China.
What is the problem with foreigners owning land in Escambia County?
Wouldn’t it actually be a good thing? I fail to see the problem or the controversy.
Today’s forest land, tomorrow’s farmland….or not………….
Seeing as how most of the acreage is forestland, that should explain the problem. If this were farmland [row crop acres] it would be of grave concern. The timber industry has been in dire need of capital since the day it was born. Henceforth, large tracts of timberland certainly would be of interest to foreign investors. The cheap dollar even sweetens the pot.
If ever foreign investors were in control of our farmland , as we know it, it could put this country on it’s knees. There is enough problems dealing with the large corporations that control our exports and dealing with the U.S. Govt. God forbid this country will ever come to that.
What do people think happens when International Papers sells off its holdings. Now the property appraiser needs to make sure that these out of country companies are paying their fair share of the property taxes, unlike some blocks of property I’ve seen on the website listed value of $100 for a 400 acre block of IP’s land.
Netherlands huh? Probably some crooked politician over there hiding his ill gotten wealth from his constituency. Regardless, somebody had to sell it to them and they were probably happy to get that money at the time.