It’s Official - Natural Gas is Hot

There’s an old saying: “It’s not news until it runs in the Times.” Thanks to this story, natural gas has officially become America’s energy darling.

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Sweet Home Alabama

On the shores of Alabama’s largest lake, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks has found the perfect piece of property. Now all he needs is the time to enjoy it. Read more

I’m Not a Big Fan of Catfish

But I’ve been meaning to reference this article that ran in The New York Times on July 18. It’s yet another example of the effects of the federal government’s mindless ethanol policy. Now, in addition to driving up basic food costs for Americans (and Mexicans), besides sending soybean production overseas, and as well as bankrupting feedlot operators and more than a few cattlemen on both sides of the border, the high prices of corn and soybeans have all but dried up commercial catfish farms in the Mississippi Delta. It’s one of the countless unforeseen consequences of a land use policy that is already beginning to unravel.

Alabama Land Generates Solid Returns

That’s the conclusion one draws from a recent report titled Alabama Farm Real Estate: A Comparison of Returns and Values Since 1970, which was prepared by John Adrian and Walt Prevatt, professors and extension economists at Auburn University.  Read more

Mexico Opposes Ethanol

As we’ve seen over the last few months, skyrocketing commodity prices are pushing land values to record levels. They are also squeezing cattlemen and other producers who rely on corn and other grains to fatten livestock and poultry. One of the loudest voices protesting this trend has been Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who petitioned the EPA to grant a 50 percent waiver on the 9 billion gallon corn-based Renewable Fuel Standard. Now another vocal opponent of ethanol has emerged: south of the border. Read more

“The Land Market Has Never Been Stronger”

So says Mac Boyd, a broker at Farmers National in Arcola, Illinois. Boyd is just one of the many veteran real estate professionals who are closely monitoring the strongest farmland market in decades. Read more

Uranium Contamination at Pinon Canyon?

First, the Army set off a firestorm when it announced its intention to use eminent domain to condemn 400,000 acres of family farms and ranches in order to triple the size of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Then lightning strikes ignited wildfires at Pinon Canyon that burned out of control on almost 50,000 acres on and off the range. Read more

Florida Pays $1.75 Billion for 187,000 Acres in the Everglades

In a massive deal announced earlier today, the State of Florida will acquire almost 300 square miles of the Everglades in and around the south end of Lake Okeechobee from U.S. Sugar Corp. for $1.75 billion ($9.000+ per acre). Read more

Brokaw Steps up to Meet the Press

Losing Tim Russert was the sort of blow that makes you take pause. The man was 58 years old and at the top of his game, and it showed each week he hosted Meet the Press. I don’t know if or how his death darkened your day, but in the week or so since his passing I have bemoaned this loss with friends, colleagues in the media business, and absolute strangers: in airports, at Starbucks, everywhere. Last Sunday I tuned in to watch the special edition of the program, and now I tip my hat to Tom Brokaw for volunteering to man Russert’s post through the election season. Thanks to our hourlong interview last year, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

678,000 Acres for $20 Million?

For the price of a penthouse overlooking Central Park, an investor could also buy 1,000 square miles in Brazil. Prices such as this listing in the Amazon River basin’s Madeira River are one of the many reasons that many are looking overseas as well as here in the U.S. But as this article in The International Herald Tribune points out, price is only one of the considerations when purchasing in a foreign country. Read more

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