Disappearing Farms: How Foreign Investors and Big Money Are Taking Over America’s Farmland

Disappearing farmland…disappearing farms. Join me for an eye-opening conversation with farmland transition and estate-planning expert Mike Downey, from Uncommon Farms, about the shocking land grabs, soaring costs, and government red tape quietly crushing America’s family farms. We uncover the truth behind Bill Gates’s farmland buyouts, the growing push for corporate control, and how YOU can stand up for our nation’s food supply. With years of experience guiding farm families through the complexities of ownership and succession planning, Mike Downey offers insider insights on preserving farmland legacies in the face of mounting challenges. Don’t miss this deep dive into the threats facing American agriculture—and the steps we can all take to protect the future of our farms. #farmland #farmers #disappearingfarmland 00:00 – Introduction & Why Farming Matters 02:12 – Overview: Farming & Media Blind Spots 03:49 – Estate Taxes & Impact on Family Farms 07:10 – Land Grabs: Bill Gates, China & Corporate Buyers 10:45 – Inflation & Squeezed Profit Margins for Farmers 14:33 – Consolidation Dangers & Food Supply Concerns 18:21 – Consumer Disconnect & Family Farms’ Reality 22:40 – Water Rights, Resource Control & Urban Sprawl 26:00 – GMOs, Pesticides & Modern Crop Production 30:28 – The Rise of Farmer’s Markets & Direct-to-Consumer 34:44 – Can the U.S. Bring Canning & Processing Back Home? 38:03 – Technology, Tokenization & Decentralizing Agriculture 42:16 – Uncommon Farms: Mission & Succession Planning 47:08 – Supporting Family Farmers & Closing Thoughts Here on the Rice Report, we talk about the three things you are not supposed to talk about: money, religion and politics.  Find out what’s really going on: @thericereport on YouTube Rumble rumble.com/thericereport Spotify open.spotify.com/show/3mS2jq8Gm3Exd5w3w0aEaz Audible music.amazon.com/podcasts/2bb31d7a-e4bd-4137-bda8-8d0bb688195c/the-rice-report iHeart Radio iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-rice-report-156997022