2 The former richest man , Indulge in farming

source ： Mammoth studio （ID:MENGMASHENDU） author ： Ma Huan edit ： Mani

Bill Gates is no longer the richest man in the world , Sit firmly in the position of the number one landlord in the United States .

7 month 7 Japan , According to US media , bill · Gates has just been approved by the court , Allow him to buy North Dakota 2100 acres （ about 8.5 Square kilometers ） Of farmland , value 1350 Thousands of dollars .

Less than 10 Year time , bill · Gates is already in the United States 18 States bought nearly 26.9 acres （ about 1089 Square kilometers ）, It occupies nearly all agricultural land in the United States 1%, amount to 10 Paris （ The area of Paris is about 105.4 Square kilometers ） size . At the latest 2021 year 1 month , bill · Gates has become the largest private farmland owner in the United States .

As of Beijing time 7 month 7 Japan , Bill Gates ranks No. 1 in the world on the Bloomberg billionaire index 4, Personal wealth is 1150 Billion dollars （ renminbi 7708 One hundred million yuan ）.

In recent years , Land prices in the United States have been soaring , Let's take Bill · The super rich represented by gates are obviously more confident to keep making moves .

Some analysts think , Invest in agricultural land in the United States “ High return , Low risk ”, Better than most other investments . data display , since 1972 Since then , American Farmland （NCREIF Farmland index ） The annualized rate of return is about 10%, And American real estate （ Us REIT index ） Only for 9%; The standard & poor's 500 The index is about 7%, Gold is about 5%.

Especially in global inflation 、 Today, food prices are soaring , It is more wise to invest in farmland .

Supply McDonald's

In this acquisition , bill · Gates with 1350 Thousands of dollars （ renminbi 9046 Ten thousand yuan ） Bought the potato farm in North Dakota .

before , Gates has been in the United States 18 States own land portfolios , The most is Louisiana , reach 69071 acres , Next is Arkansas ,47927 acres , The third is Arizona ,25750 acres . And California （4905 acres ）、 Colorado （2270 acres ）、 Florida （14828 acres ）、 Idaho （9233 acres ） etc. . 

Many of the farmland gates bought are the best cultivated land in the United States . His supporters believe , The billionaire's purchase of farmland , It is to help develop agriculture to cope with climate change , The goal is “ Saving the earth ”, It will also provide job opportunities for farmers . 

Gates himself has responded to this ：“ Agriculture is very important . With more productive seeds , We can avoid deforestation , And help Africa cope with the climate problems they already face .”

Gates' farmland investment , It has been criticized by some farmers and environmentalists —— They think that , The founder of Microsoft called for environmental protection and the development of sustainable agriculture , While encouraging non professionals to hoard land with personal actions , Instead of sustainable planting .

2017 year , Bill and Melinda · The Gates Foundation promises to provide 3 Billion dollars , To help low-income farmers in Asia and Africa adapt to climate change .2018 year , The Gates Foundation announced that it would invest 4000 Million dollars for research , To help breed chickens and cattle that can produce high-quality eggs and meat , So as to produce more milk for farms in South Asia and Africa . 

Opponents say , Gates said he would help the world develop agriculture , But they are grabbing the best farmland in the United States , How can this help farmers in South Asia and Africa ？

Critics also worry , In the U.S. , The return of agriculture far exceeds that of many industries , If the rich keep entering this field , Continue to buy agricultural land , In the future, the cost of farmers' planting land will rise greatly .

“ What's the use of gates buying so many farmland ？ This will only make the land price higher and higher , Young farmers are more difficult to start , Forced to lease his land forever .” Some farmers questioned .

Gates claimed that he would devote himself to developing agricultural resources in underdeveloped areas ： Gates Foundation  

When gates bought farmland in North Dakota , The state's Agricultural Commissioner said , Many farmers feel that they are being exploited by the super rich , The Attorney General of the state has also received a large number of complaints from the public .

Data collected by American media shows , In the land owned by gates , In northern Louisiana 7 Ten thousand acres are used to grow soybeans 、 corn 、 Cotton and rice ; Nebraska 2 Ten thousand acres are used to grow soybeans ; Washington area 1.4 Ten thousand acres are used to grow potatoes ; The land in California is all carrot farms .

Although gates is 《 Climate economy and the future of mankind 》 A book expresses his concern about eating cheeseburgers , Because this kind of food will produce a lot of greenhouse gases in its manufacturing process , However , According to British and American media reports , The tech billionaire's farm is one of McDonald's suppliers —— The latter buys potatoes from their farms , To make McDonald's French fries .

This seems to conflict with the environmental protection advocated by gates .

In order to cheat subsidies ？

Some American farmers accused , Gates' investment , Just to cheat taxes and subsidies .

According to the current tax law of the United States , Agriculture is one of the industries with the highest tax relief and financial subsidies in the whole industry .

The first is tax preference . As early as 2016 year , Trump's trump National Golf Club in New Jersey has raised 8 A goat 、 Put some hay fields , It is rated as being eligible for agricultural tax relief , You only need to hand in 1000 dollar （ renminbi 6500 element ） The tax .

As for subsidies ,2019 year , The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an additional total for farmers for two years 280 Billion dollars in aid , This money ratio 2008 When the financial crisis hit in, all the expenditures for rescuing the auto industry added up to more .2020 year , The federal government of the United States provides subsidies to farmers in excess of 465 Billion dollars , Account for the whole agriculture 1196 Of the $billion net income 40%.

According to the U.S. agricultural subsidy rules , The money is not distributed according to the average head , It is calculated according to the amount of land owned . Gates, who has become the largest farmer , Nature will reap the biggest subsidy .

Dick, owner of Coyote farm in Iowa · Sloane once calculated , Every acre of his land 10 Over the years, about 16000 US dollar subsidy . By this standard , A rough calculation , Gates 27 Ten thousand acres of land are 10 Year , At least get 43 Billion dollars （ renminbi 288 One hundred million yuan ） Tax subsidies .

Besides , As long as it can be proved that the land has been planted with designated agricultural crops before , Now fallow has become a habitat for wild animals and plants , You can also get subsidies for nature conservation .

in other words , After gates bought farmland , You can enjoy tax preference , Can get farmland subsidies , You don't even need to grow any crops on these lands , The US government will pay him .

Because most parts of the United States have no upper limit on the land that individuals can buy . future , Gates can also continue to expand his agricultural territory .