Farmers in several parts of the United States are declining multimillion dollar offers from data center developers, underscoring tensions between rapid technology expansion and long standing agricultural livelihoods.
In Pennsylvania, 86-year-old farmer Mervin Raudabaugh rejected an offer exceeding $15 million for 261 acres of farmland he had worked for decades. Instead, he sold the development rights to the Lancaster Farmland Trust for just under $2 million, ensuring the land remains permanently restricted to agricultural use.
“I was not interested in destroying my farms,” Raudabaugh told Fox 43. “That was the bottom line. It really wasn’t so much the economic end of it. I just didn’t want to see these two farms destroyed.”
Raudabaugh also warned about broader development pressures affecting rural communities.
“Only the land that is preserved here is going to be here,” he said. “The rest, every square inch, is going to get built on.”
His decision reflects a pattern seen in other states, as technology companies seek large tracts of land with access to power and water for data center construction.
In Mason County, Kentucky, landowner Ida Huddleston said she turned down an offer worth more than $33 million for her family’s 650-acre farm. According to The Guardian, Huddleston said developers approached multiple landowners in the area.
“You don’t have enough to buy me out. I’m not for sale. Leave me alone, I’m satisfied,” Huddleston said.
Reports indicate similar refusals elsewhere. Media accounts have documented cases of landowners declining offers ranging from tens of millions of dollars to more than $120,000 per acre.
Jeff Swinehart of the Lancaster Farmland Trust said many farm families prioritize preservation despite the financial incentives tied to development.
“We see from many farm families their desire to ensure that that farm remains a farm forever and that it contributes to the local community and that local quality of life,” Swinehart told Fox 43.
The expansion of data centers, driven in part by artificial intelligence infrastructure demands, has intensified land competition in rural regions. Industry analysts project significant increases in land requirements for future facilities.
Some farmers and residents have raised concerns about potential impacts on water use, electricity demand, and the long term availability of agricultural land. Others argue that development may bring tax revenue and jobs to shrinking rural populations.
Raudabaugh acknowledged that not all landowners can refuse large offers but emphasized his personal connection to farming.
“It was my life,” he told Fox 43.