the company from which I retired from purchased 5000 acres of farm land in the early 70’s on which to build a heavy industrial plant. When I retired over 20 years later it was still receiving checks for the tobacco base allotted to the “land” on which it was not grown.
Also, developers could and did buy land with tobacco acreage and actually sell the acreage separate from the land.
Five or six years ago there was a report published noting the high percentage of subsidized crop payments being paid to people and companies not growing the crop for which they were receiving the payment. Supposedly they, in some cases, were leasing the allotment out to some farmer who could thereby increase his.
What also happens here in Texas and probably other states is that agricultural exemptions on property taxes are given to farmers/ranchers. Property taxes are almost nothing!! I have 23 acres of land, which we have a cattle lease and my taxes are $30/year. Otherwise it would be thousands per year. Yes, I do get a meager amount for the lease although we get zero from the goverment.
My brother-in-law bought land and got “introduced” to a local ag management man who has “helped” him improve his land. Although he has put some money into it, he has received lots of expensive planning and some portion of development from this ag money floating around! It’s a vicious circle as taxpayers funded the education of their college education and now pay dearly for them to do their job in agriculture improving other’s land values.
It really is disgusting. When #43 increased the subsidies I wanted to lob him a fresh patty!