American farmers, who constitute only 1.8% of the country's population, not only feed nearly 300 million Americans but also make the United States the world's largest exporter of agricultural products. In 2014, US agricultural exports reached a record $152.3 billion.
In the United States, farms are treated as ordinary commodities. As long as you have the money and the inclination, you can buy one without needing to apply for approval or engage in bribery.
Once purchased, farms can be passed down through generations, with unrestricted use even beyond urban planning boundaries.
You can buy a productive farm with fertile soil to grow crops, a ranch for raising livestock on average soil, or opt for a picturesque farm with convenient access to build structures such as hotels, spas, nursing homes, or golf courses, transforming it into an entertainment venue for visitors worldwide.
Perhaps one day, your meticulously crafted farm could become as famous as the Botanic Gardens on Victoria Island, attracting millions of visitors annually and generating substantial wealth. However, don't calculate the price of American farms using simple exchange rates. In the United States, a typical 160-acre farm costs around $450,000, equivalent to 2-3 years' wages for an average American industrial worker.
Without visiting rural America, one cannot claim to truly understand the United States. On a farm in the River Valley city of North Dakota, owned by the couple Greg, one can witness modern rural American life, where farmers live no worse than their urban counterparts.
North Dakota, located in the northern United States bordering Canada, relies heavily on agriculture, with linseed, wheat, barley, sunflower seeds, and eleven other crops ranking top in production nationwide. Agriculture contributes a significant 25% to the state's economy (approximately four times the national average), with farmers comprising 24% of the state's workforce (compared to less than 2% nationally).
River Valley City exemplifies a typical agricultural region, with vast farms and towering grain silos lining the landscape.
Greg's "home" isn't a traditional farmhouse but rather a regular two-story residence, indistinguishable from most private homes in American towns. American households typically pay attention to kitchen and dining room décor, and Greg's home is no exception.
Kitchen utensils are neatly arranged in cupboards, the countertop is clean and bright, and appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, induction cooktops, ovens, and microwaves are all available. Of particular interest is the electric garbage disposal unit, which efficiently compresses household waste.
Combined, Greg and his wife own approximately 3,000 acres of farmland and pasture, primarily cultivating soybeans, wheat, corn, and buckwheat. They also raise 185 cows and 8 bulls.
Each cow wears a small orange plastic card on each ear, serving as its identification, detailing birthdates, family relations, and unique numbers, all easily accessible through a computer system.
Greg estimates the total value of their assets, including farms, ranches, homes, livestock, and farm machinery, to be around $1.2 million.
Managing this $1.2 million estate leaves them with little time for vacations, as they find fulfillment in their busy roles as farmers, managers, accountants, mechanics, welders, carpenters, veterinarians, chemists, agronomists, teachers (demonstrating farming techniques to helpers), marketing specialists, investors, restaurant owners (Greg's family collaborates in running a high-end restaurant in Washington, specializing in local North Dakota cuisine), electricians, and more.
