Largest Private Landowners -- 2013

[Jstpssng]

I am sorry to report that you fall in the NEC* category.

Steve

* Not Even Close

That must put me and my 22 acres in the EFA category... "Even Farther Away"

I think for owners like Ted Turner, the consequence is what happens to the land in the long term after he is gone. With lawyers and money , a person can try to control the use of the land for generations. Some of our nicer National Parks came into existence that way.

IIRC Ted owns quite a few bison on more or less natural prairie lands spread across his various holdings. Malone is into conservation also.

Looking through the list, many of those mentioned have been in the family for several generations. These families are more inclined to pass on their values, although there's always one owner who wants to make a quick killing. Several of these ownerships are partly or all here in Maine; Malone, JDIrving, Cassidy, Millikan... I'm quite familiar with the last two families and the heirs are quite motivated to do the right thing with the land.

 

[NorTracNY]

How many of those acres are in New York, where the taxes are so expensive that you couldn't afford to "do nothing" with the land?

 

[oldballs]

At a recent event where a Native Ameriican (Osage) spoke, he mentioned that it is only Indian reservation land that is actually "owned". ..... viz., even a local government can take an emminent domain action on everybody else. But that probably doesn't include Mr. Turner.

 

[smstonypoint]

How many of those acres are in New York, where the taxes are so expensive that you couldn't afford to "do nothing" with the land?

The article doesn't mention any of his property in the East. Apparently, most of his property is in the West. The article mentions three ranches in New Mexico -- one @ 590,823 acres, a second @156,439 acres, and a third @ 362,885 acres.

Does NY have use-value assessment (i.e., lower property taxes) for qualifying ag. and forestry land?

I pay a much lower rate on the 85 acres of my NC farm that are covered by my forest management plan, and the regular rate on my five-acre homestead (house, barns, etc.).

Steve