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Because land in the US wasn't surveyed with hexagons. In the PLSS system (used in a majority of US states), land was initially surveyed using one-mile sections

Because land in the US wasn't surveyed with hexagons. In the PLSS system (used in a majority of US states), land was initially surveyed using one-mile sections as the base unit. The next division is into section quarters, a half-mile on the side. The article has an image which I suspect illustrates differing ownership of the SW quarter: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0CA9Q64oOI/V6iHkNVv8EI/AAAAAAAA01g/WlP7zeI7dgYK8hsZZV4V9wRJX2bLSQZtACLcB/s1600/US%2BCPI%2Bquarters.jpg https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0CA9Q64oOI/V6iHkNVv8EI/AAAAAAAA0... Why not in Saudi Arabia? Who knows, but they certainly show more creativity in the layout.

jamesrom 10y ago
If that is owned by a different person, that brings an interesting opportunity cost problem. If the owner of the smaller area shared it with the owner of the bigger area. An agreement could be struck to pay for 1 quarter of the operating costs and receive one quarter of the harvest. Both parties would save on operating costs, yet receive the same harvest.