Bipartisan Efforts Intensify Against Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland, Targeting China

FIRST ON FOX: Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democratic Senator John Fetterman are joining forces to introduce legislation aimed at regulating foreign purchases of American farmland. This bipartisan initiative reflects a growing concern about the implications of foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States.

The proposed Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Improvements Act seeks to implement crucial recommendations from the Government Accountability Office that surfaced in January 2024. The GAO report highlighted the inefficiencies of the existing Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act in addressing foreign ownership in the agricultural sector.

Senator Ricketts articulated his position on this issue, stating that American farmland should be reserved for American farmers and ranchers, rather than foreign adversaries. He emphasized the significance of food security, declaring that national security is directly tied to the integrity of local agriculture.

Key Provisions of the Bill

This legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Tommy Tuberville, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, and Representative Don Bacon, mandates that foreign individuals and entities must disclose their interests if they hold more than one percent in any American agricultural land. Such transparency is essential for maintaining national security and ensuring that the agricultural sector remains free from foreign influence.

Senator Tuberville voiced his concerns, pointing out the alarming trend of Chinese investments in American farmland over the past decades. He highlighted the risks of allowing the Chinese Communist Party to establish a foothold in U.S. agricultural supply chains, reinforcing the notion that food security is indeed intertwined with national security.

Strengthening Oversight

The AFIDA Improvements Act aims to enhance communication and information exchanges between the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, the legislation calls for necessary updates to the AFIDA handbook, including the establishment of a comprehensive online reporting system.

Representative Bacon underlined the importance of instituting solid processes to counter potential threats posed by foreign agents, which he views as vital for safeguarding American agricultural assets.

Addressing Historical Context

The proposed legislation intends to update the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. By doing so, it seeks to better equip the USDA to manage foreign ownership that undermines the integrity of American agriculture.

According to reports, foreign entities currently hold more than 40 million acres of agricultural land in the United States. Notably, the acreage owned by Chinese nationals has exploded from approximately 13,720 acres in 2010 to an astonishing 383,935 acres by 2021, as per data from the USDA.

Strengthening National Security Through Legislative Action

The AFIDA Improvements Act represents a crucial step in Congress’s ongoing efforts to keep foreign ownership in check while bolstering national security initiatives. It was initially introduced in early 2024 by Bacon and Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Additionally, the USDA reported that Chinese nationals owned around 350,000 acres of farmland across 27 states as of last year. This statistic paints a stark picture of the growing concern over foreign investments in strategic agricultural real estate.

A Broader Movement Against Foreign Agriculture Investments

Legislative momentum is building around efforts to specifically ban foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, especially in proximity to military installations. The PASS Act, spearheaded by Senator Mike Rounds, aims to prevent entities from countries deemed