Usually, hostile takeovers by the government or NGOs occur when government policy is used to deny water rights either for irrigation or livestock consumption.
In the former case, a lost crop or fallow year can literally force someone to sell the farm, and in the Klamath case, organizations like the Nature Conservancy (IIRC) were there to offer a whopping 20 cents on the dollar of the value of that land. That is more typical of the Public/Private partnership land grab. Regulation, limitation, fiscal exhaustion (in court and otherwise), sale of assets to cover expenses.
We have not had much of that here in this State, but in others it is a growing problem.
One notable attempt here was an attempt by environmental groups here in the '80s to create a 'wilderness area' from homestead go-back land (homesteads which failed and the land went back to the Government). The proposal was presented as a series of parcels in random order, but when those were drawn on a map, comprised a strip of land which would have ended access to a significant area of ranching, farming, and oil production. The only other way in would have been to ford the Little Missouri River, which might be okay for an occasional crossing, but would not have provided sustainable access.
The proposal was stopped by a coalition of farmers, stockmen, and oilfield people, along with other property owners.
On occasion we feel the push of big money from elsewhere with astroturf campaigns for or against something, and thankfully (so far) North Dakotans have been able to spot and stop most of that.
I see you’re in North Dakota. How cool is that?! I hope to visit some day.
Interesting post. This is what I love about America - true diversity. You are in your wonderful part of the world, I’m in mine and yet we’re both in the greatest country in the world. All I really know about the west is from westerns, the book Shane and the Little House series.