26 Oct 2006
Wealthy 'amenity' ranchers taking over the West

I would imagine that a lot of these folks fly to their "ranch" from their gentrified condo in the inner city - unless they're coming from their beach house. But in any case, this land is essentially being taken out of production and the rural population displaced. To the cities. where they can't afford a cheap hut downtown because they've all been turned into condos...

A 10-year survey suggests that in many parts of the American West, the grizzled, leathery rancher riding the range to take care of his cattle and make a buck is being replaced by wealthy "amenity" owners who fly in on weekends, fish in their private trout ponds and often prefer roaming elk to Herefords. They don't much care whether or not the ranch turns a profit. And many of them think that wolves are neat, the new study suggested.

(link) [EurekAlert!]

09:18 /Agriculture | 1 comment | permanent link