Posted on 01/20/2016 5:02:41 AM PST by HomerBohn
As the Southwest grapples with a devastating multi-year drought, farmers in the region have expressed growing frustration over where their precious water is going. Namely, they're upset by the fact that countries like Saudi Arabia have been buying up farmland in the US, and sending the food back to the Middle East.
Two years ago, the Saudi food company known as Almarai bought 10,000 acres of farmland in Arizona for $48 million, and more recently purchased 1,790 acres in Blythe, California. These properties mainly grow alfalfa to feed Saudi Arabia's dairy industry, and though Almarai is a private enterprise, the company has admitted that using American farmland is "in line with the Saudi government direction toward conserving local resources," especially water.
La Paz County Board of Supervisors Chairman Holly Irwin pointed out that "We're not getting oil for free, so why are we giving our water away for free?" She added that "We're letting them come over here and use up our resources. It's very frustrating for me, especially when I have residents telling me that their wells are going dry and they have to dig a lot deeper for water. It's costly for them to drill new wells."
However, the Saudi's aren't entirely to blame for the situation. The Arizona county where they are growing food has the most lax water regulations in the state, and traditionally California has had pretty loose rules about water rights for farmers. If they don't want foreign nations to take advantage of their water supplies, they may have to change the way that resource is managed.
Our 'manufacturing' has been shipped to China and other Asian countries and our food industry is being quietly acquired by the Chinese and the Muslims.
Where is Congress on this quiet encroachment? Too concerned about their exalted careers in self-enrichment to do anything.
Obama is happy with anything that causes further demise of America.
If an AMERICAN wanted to buy land in Saudi Arabia, they would never be allowed to do so. Funny how everyone else can protect their resources but not us!
Having reached adulthood in the early 1970’s, I’ve seen all the panics about foreigners owning America. First it was the oil-rich Arabs, then it was the Japanese and the Germans, then the Chinese. Is it the Arabs again?
Let’s face it, compared to other countries, and as imperfect as our government has made it, America is the best country to own property in.
Maybe investing in Muslim refugee communities?
Other countries put themselves first. America does not. It’s as simple as that.
They’ll have to dump it pretty soon, they’re running out of money pretty quick. When oil goes below $90, they’re in deficit.
:-)
Much as I despise the Saudis, they’re looking taking care of business by buying up cheap land. The Americans who sold it to them are to blame, not the Saudis.
They caused the economic and cultural conditions that led to the situation with their Global banks and owned leadership here in the US,
I guess compared to Saudi Arabia it’s fertile.
It’s all of them.
When you say “America does not”, who do you mean? I assume the land being bought up is owned by American citizens, not the government. As citizens, they can sell to whomever they want. Why didn’t they just refuse to sell to foreigners?
Wait? We can OWN property? /I 1/2 /s
“Land, see snatch.”
If course if an Arab sells their land to a Jew, they’ll be executed.
“Saudia Arabia 7, United States nothing, you see, it can be done!”
Bs, total balderdasious drivel
Not true. Cannot find the source but have seen that Saudi break even point is $5 per barrel ... Not $90.
Then it was China... and we had our housing bubble bust thanks to Barney Frank et al. 7 trillion in housing values gone.
Next is the Saudis... and Fannie Mae just announced yet another huge program (Homeready) to give loans to the vastly under-qualified (3 percent down with a 620 credit score still qualifies). Look for another bubble burst in 3-6 years.
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