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One company, 100% Chinese-owned, produces 60% of US pork. Four companies control over 80% of the US meat industry. The US food supply allows over 10,000 additives. 99% of chickens, 95% of hogs, and 78% of cattle in the US are raised in confinement. 80% of antibiotics consumed in the US are fed to animals; in 2016, 18.4 million pounds of antibiotics were sold for livestock. Suicide rates amongst farmers are higher than any other profession, including veterans.

Bill Gates is the largest owner of ranches and farmland, raising questions about the trend of big companies buying up farmland. This is seen as a form of fascism, now being promoted as Build Back Better or The Great Reset.

We lost 500,000 farms and 125,000,000 acres of farmland in the US last year. Local ranchers and producers need support. Buy American. Buy Local.

I'm in Sherwood, Connecticut, discussing why entities like Gates and China are buying up American farmland. My experience with factory farms highlights this issue. For 20 years, I sued large producers like Smithfield Foods, which built a massive slaughterhouse in North Carolina. Partnering with a state senator, they passed laws making it illegal to sue factory farms. This led to the demise of 28,000 independent hog farmers, replaced by a few large factories controlled by Smithfield. They dictate farming practices, leaving farmers with no control. As a result, Smithfield now controls 80% of hog production in North Carolina and sold itself to China, threatening the vision of American democracy rooted in independent family farms. This industrial agriculture not only compromises food quality but also undermines our landscapes and democracy.

Last year, the United States lost over 500,000 farms and more than 125 million acres of farmland. Local ranchers and producers need support now more than ever. It's important to buy American and buy local.

Farmers in Ontario are being forced off their land for a future industrial site by the region of Waterloo. The compensation offered is deemed too low, leaving farmers without a livelihood. This prime agricultural farmland is crucial for food production, yet 770 acres are being acquired. Farmers are fighting back, and support is needed to protect their homes and livelihoods. The government's actions set a dangerous precedent for the future of vital farmland. Stand with farmers by taking action.

I'm here to address why figures like Gates and China are acquiring farmland. I spent 20 years involved with factory farms and saw firsthand how Smithfield Foods transformed North Carolina's pork industry. Smithfield built a massive slaughterhouse and partnered with a state senator who made it nearly impossible to sue factory farms. They then introduced warehouse-style pig farming, driving pork prices down and forcing 28,000 independent hog farmers out of business, replacing them with 2,200 factories. Farmers who remained became controlled by Smithfield, losing autonomy over their land and practices. This model spread to Iowa, and eventually, Smithfield sold itself to China, giving them control over a large portion of American hog production. This shift undermines the vision of a democracy rooted in independent family farms and poses a significant threat to our democracy by consolidating control of our landscapes.

Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos are the largest farmland owners, with Gates owning 245,000 acres and Bezos owning 420,000 acres. Gates recognizes the significance of farmland and food as we move forward.

Under the current administration, 325,000 migrant children are missing. This number could fill California's largest stadium five or six times. It is claimed that many of these children are dead, and many are sex slaves or slaves of a different nature.

I'm at Sherwood Island in Connecticut, discussing the issue of farmland ownership by Gates and China. My experience in factory farming, particularly with Smithfield Foods in North Carolina, illustrates this problem. Smithfield built a massive slaughterhouse and partnered with Wendell Murphy, who passed laws making it illegal to sue factory farms. This led to the closure of 28,000 independent hog farmers, replaced by 2,100 factory farms controlled by Smithfield. Farmers who contracted with Smithfield lost control over their operations, becoming dependent on the company. As a result, Smithfield now controls 80% of hog production in North Carolina and expanded this model nationwide before selling to China. This shift undermines the vision of independent family farms and poses a significant threat to American democracy and our agricultural landscape.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is the largest private owner of American farmland, with over 275,000 acres in 19 states. John Boyd Jr. says Gates’ land purchases are greed that runs America’s family farm off family land, noting, 'What farmer do you know that can pay that kind of money per acre' as prices reach '$1,520,000 dollars acre.' He argues Gates doesn't help communities and wants to reshape the food industry the way seeds were changed, 'and now he wants to to do that with beef,' opposing 'fake meat' and urging support for 'America's farmers.' He cites China buying farmland, saying, 'The Chinese own, the biggest pork processing plant,' and complains of 'no oversight from this administration.' Boyd urges Americans to 'start growing small plots of food in their backyard' and says, 'it just takes a few acres, and you can have your own food supply.'

I'm here to discuss why companies like Gates and China are buying up farmland. I spent years suing factory farms, including Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer. Smithfield came to North Carolina and, with a partner, created large-scale hog warehouses, dropping pork prices from 60¢ to 2¢ a pound. This put 28,000 independent hog farmers out of business, replaced by 2,200 factories controlled by or contracted to Smithfield. Farmers became like serfs on their own land, losing control over their practices. Smithfield dictated everything. Because of the price drop in North Carolina, Iowa had to adopt the same system. Eventually Smithfield controlled 80% of US hog production and then sold itself to China. Now China owns a large part of our hog production, threatening Thomas Jefferson's vision of a democracy rooted in independent family farms. This industrial agriculture gives us substandard food and threatens American democracy.

Thank you, Rick. President Trump recognized the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and took significant steps to protect Americans. Currently, China owns over 349,000 acres of agricultural land in the U.S., an increase of 82% in three years, which poses a national security risk. During his presidency, Trump enacted measures to review CCP land purchases near critical infrastructure and championed the USMCA, which boosted U.S. agricultural exports by $2 billion annually. In contrast, Kamala Harris opposed the USMCA and Trump's tariffs on China, undermining support for American farmers. Today, we gather to address the concerns of Pennsylvania farmers regarding China's influence on our food supply, with President Trump here to listen and respond.

In 2020, Bill Gates became the largest private farmland owner in the US, acquiring over 269,000 acres across 18 states in under a decade via shell companies. Land is a good economic investment desired by the ultra-wealthy due to its intrinsic value and limited supply. Farmland is a limited resource; they are not creating any more of it. The United States loses about 2,000 acres of farmland daily. Farmland is an asset with increasing value.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources issued a curtailment of 500,000 acres, affecting 781 square miles of farmland during a year with abundant water. Reservoirs are full, risking overflow. A farmer faces a $3,000,000 loss, potentially ending a 135-year family legacy. The governor has the power to end the curtailment but has not acted. Leadership plans to let the water dry up the farmland.

The discussion focuses on the impact of Trump's immigration policy on farmers. There has been a 7% decline in American farms from 2017 to 2022, with farmers facing challenges like rising costs, climate change, and labor shortages. Approximately two-thirds of farm workers are foreign-born, and 42% of crop laborers are undocumented. Farmers express concern over potential mass deportations, which could exacerbate labor shortages. While economists suggest that grocery prices may not dramatically increase, there could be a rise in imported produce, raising environmental and labor concerns. This situation may also lead to more mechanization on farms and could threaten the viability of American agriculture.

Around 20 million people have been affected in our country. The chart is a few months old, but it still shows the impact. Take a look at what has happened.

About 20 million people have been affected in our country. The chart referenced is a few months old, but it highlights significant changes that have occurred. For a clearer understanding, it's important to look at the latest developments.

In Texas, over a million acres of farmland have been destroyed by fires. The Texas Forest Service is clearing land on ranchers' properties, damaging the remaining feed and grass. The reason for this action is unknown. Share your thoughts in the comments and support buying American and local products. Stand up for what's right.

The speaker argues that “fossil water depletion” is a near-term crisis, with impacts arriving “in the next few years,” and cites firsthand information from a professional well driller in Central Texas who reports rapidly falling water levels in parts of the Ogallala aquifer. The driller says he has personally seen aquifer water levels drop 50 feet in five years (about 10 feet per year). When water drops below the pump intake, pumps keep running without heat protection, overheat, and can fuse to the well casing; the only option becomes drilling a new well. The driller reports that drilling new wells to replace failed ones is “primary business” in Texas. The speaker connects this to the Ogallala Water Aquifer (High Plains Aquifer), describing it as spanning eight states: Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The speaker states that the Ogallala supplies 30% of all U.S. groundwater used for irrigation and frames it as “fossil water” vanishing beneath major farmland. They further argue that data centers increase water demand beyond electricity cooling, including cooling gas turbines, adding billions of gallons of water usage and accelerating depletion in stressed regions. The speaker claims agriculture could fail “one or two decades” from now and argues the “breadbasket of America” ends when farming stops due to lack of water. The speaker cites depletion and “day zero” timelines: they claim 30% of the Ogallala portion under Kansas is already “unusable,” that 70% of the Texas Panhandle portion will be unusable within 20 years, and that some portions may become unusable in five or ten years depending on location. They state recharge would take “6,000 years” for full replenishment if use stopped. The speaker uses broader U.S. water figures (USGS, last found 2015): 82 billion gallons per day withdrawn from aquifers, about 92 million acre-feet per year, with 71% of groundwater used for irrigation and about 29% for other uses. They state the Ogallala alone supplies 20–21 million acre-feet per year for irrigation and sits beneath about 112 million acres. For California’s Central Valley Aquifer, they cite 10–12 billion gallons per day (2011–2017 figures) and emphasize net depletion: total depletion from 1900–2008 of about 1,000 cubic kilometers and acceleration since 2008 to about 25 cubic kilometers per year. They add Ogallala loss figures including 286 million acre-feet lost through 2019 (from predevelopment) and 9 million acre-feet lost from 2001 to 2019. The speaker then focuses on well failure thresholds, stating that in West Texas in 2024, over 60% of surveyed wells had reached levels below the pump intake. They claim the Texas High Plains/Southern Ogallala portion will be unusable within 20 years at current pumping rates. They cite an example of Southwest Kansas dropping “one and a half feet” from January 2024 to January 2025, and they state some officials said parts of Western Kansas may not last another 25 years, with 30% of the Kansas portion already described as “past day zero.” They state Nebraska’s Ogallala is not having a shortage due to stringent restrictions on drilling and that it is expected to last “many decades.” They also mention reported high depletion intensity in California exceeding a 28-foot drop in some areas and warn that without groundwater depletion enforcement, severe impacts could occur within “one generation.” The speaker argues disruptions could begin “around 2030.” They cite population growth to 358 million by 2035 concentrated in water-stressed regions (Texas, Arizona, Florida, the Carolinas). They assert NOAA projections that groundwater depletion of the Ogallala could increase by up to 50% by 2050. They reiterate that data centers are concentrated in particular regions and that depletion is not automatically replaced laterally due to complex geology. They also claim that U.S. manufacturing expansion increases water demand, referencing the CHIPS Act-funded fabrication plants in Arizona, Texas, Ohio, and New York and describing additional battery “gigafactories,” with millions of gallons of fresh water per day per facility, much of which they say would come from groundwater. The speaker concludes that farming cannot be sustained by imported water and that there is “no price signal” to reduce pumping once wells exist, unlike oil and gas. A projected timeline is given: accelerating well failures from now to 2030 across Texas, Southwest Kansas, parts of Oklahoma, and parts of New Mexico; Southern High Plains/Ogallala Southern portion run-out and cessation of row crops between 2030 and 2035; severe California restrictions by 2040; and by 2035–2045 up to 70% of the Texas Panhandle becoming unusable for irrigation, plus a large reduction in agricultural output tied to Ogallala drying. They claim functionally exhausted aquifers could persist “for thousands of years,” forcing reorganization of national food production toward Eastern and Northern Plains and causing population and economic shifts away from affected states. Finally, the speaker discusses possible changes they say could reverse the trajectory: population reduction, and “free energy technologies” enabling desalination and large-scale water transport. They argue against government “suppression over free energy technologies” and present engineered scarcity as a driver. They also include a personal anecdote about pipelines transporting treated wastewater in Central Texas from SpaceX/Boring Company-related facilities to the Colorado River.

The largest pork producer in the US is Chinese-owned, leading to negative impacts on small farms. The hog industry has seen a drastic decline in independent producers due to vertical integration. Smithfield Farms, the top pork producer, is Chinese-owned, raising concerns for consumers. While reversing the hog industry's consolidation may be challenging, efforts can be made to prevent similar issues in the cattle industry.

Land is becoming more valuable. In the mid-1990s, farmland was valued at less than $1,500 an acre, adjusted for inflation. By 2020, that number had grown to $3,160 an acre. Because land is expensive, it is primarily people of wealth who can afford it. Institutional capital is growing and becoming a bigger piece of the market. It's about a $3,000,000,000,000 asset class when you look at the whole US.

I don't want houses on my land. Conservation easements are needed to prevent rural areas from being covered in houses. A 180-acre grass farm nearby was turned into 18 houses, which is concerning. People buy land, mow it, and fertilize it for aesthetics, not for growing food. It's wasteful and unsustainable.

I'm in Sherwood, Connecticut, discussing concerns about Gates and China buying up American farmland. My experience with factory farms in North Carolina highlights this issue. Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer, partnered with a state senator to pass laws that made it illegal to sue factory farms. They drastically reduced pork prices, driving out 28,000 independent farmers. Those who remained had to sign contracts with Smithfield, losing control over their operations. This model spread to Iowa, giving Smithfield control over 80% of U.S. hog production, which is now owned by China. This shift threatens the vision of American democracy rooted in independent family farms, as industrial agriculture compromises food quality and landscapes. If you support my presidential campaign, visit kennedy24.com to donate.

We usually avoid political topics, but recent issues significantly impact British agriculture. As farmers, we see ourselves as caretakers of the land, which we intend to keep within our families. For instance, Clarkson's farm, spanning 1,000 acres, could face an inheritance tax bill of up to £2.5 million, forcing the next generation to sell land to manage the debt. In 2023, land purchases by UK farmers fell by 8%, while institutional investors increased their acquisitions by 13%. This raises concerns about land ownership in the UK—should it remain with local farmers or go to corporations? This shift could harm food security and the UK economy. Despite our differences, we all agree that Labour's budget undermines British agriculture. We encourage everyone to unite and show support on November 19th.