However, the expected marginal value of information gathered (discounted for risk and uncertainty) is often lower than the marginal cost of the information or processing itself.
The speculation as to the motive for the person who bought the land serves no purpose in examining verifiable facts such as the marginal value of the land now.
Given that the marginal value of water use in irrigation is generally well below municipal and industrial uses, such outcomes are clearly linked with political, security and ideological concerns.