ABOUT THIS REPORTING
Flatwater analyzed land sales made in the open market between 2018 and 2022 from data originally gathered by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications data journalism class.
The analysis found seven of the top 10 buyers of ag land by money spent during that period were organizations headquartered outside Nebraska, including a North Carolina investment firm, the Silicon Valley social media giant Facebook and the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church. (View the full list here.)
“Who’s Buying Nebraska” was made possible by a grant from the Center for Rural Strategies and Grist.
Who’s Buying Nebraska? Corporations, investors grabbing giant chunks of Nebraska farmland
Seven out-of-state buyers, including a Utah church, a Philadelphia corporate farm and a California investment fund, spent nearly $250 million in the past five years on pricey Nebraska farmland, FFP analysis shows.
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Who’s Buying Nebraska? Philly organic farm is 2nd-biggest buyer of Nebraska farmland
The Flatwater Free Press analysis shows that seven of the top 10 land buyers in Nebraska are headquartered outside the state.
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Spilling Bill’s beans: Tech billionaire spent $113 million on Nebraska farmland
Bill Gates' Nebraska neighbors don't know he owns the soybean field down the road. Here's the story of his spending spree, including the massive loan he took out against his land.
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Water’s worth: It sits beneath Nebraska’s farmland and has serious value. But who owns it?
Out-of-state investors are buying up Nebraska land in part because of the groundwater that can be placed on crops. But there are restrictions on what they can do with that water.
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Facebook, Google data centers among latest developments transforming Nebraska farmland
Meta and Google have paid a premium for Nebraska farmland in recent years.
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Ted Turner, longtime Nebraska land baron, still buying as next chapter nears
The billionaire founder of CNN has long owned more Nebraska land than anyone. What becomes of it when he's gone?
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Who’s buying Nebraska? Foreign companies deeply involved in farmland — but not how you think
Foreign companies have serious ties to Nebraska agriculture, but those ties don't often lead to ownership of Nebraska farmland - thanks partly to a 19th century law.
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Who’s Buying Nebraska? After shopping spree, Mormon church is top land purchaser
In the past five years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought twice as much Nebraska land as the second biggest buyer. If they keep it up, they’ll soon own more than anyone.
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Quick hit: Who’s Buying Nebraska?
See the Top 100 buyers of Nebraska farmland, by both money and amount of land.
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Who’s Buying Nebraska? Corporations, investors grabbing giant chunks of Nebraska farmland
Seven out-of-state buyers, including a Utah church, a Philadelphia corporate farm and a California investment fund, spent nearly $250 million in the past five years on pricey Nebraska farmland, FFP analysis shows.
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Three Nebraska tribes are done losing land. Now they’re buying.
Three Native tribes are rebuying back land that was once theirs, before the U.S. government took some and then desperation stole more. Getting it back isn't cheap.
Top farmland buyers by acreage
Read more about our methodology »