Bipartisan ‘Farmland Act’ bill to stop Chinese acquisition of American farmland

Foreign ownership of farmland in the United States is sparking bipartisan action as concerns mount over the substantial holdings by foreign entities, especially those from China, in American agricultural property.

The Daily Mail reported that a legislative initiative aims to tighten federal oversight of foreign acquisitions of U.S. farmland, with China’s tenfold increase in investments over the past decade spotlighted as a current threat.

The ‘Farmland Act,’ spearheaded by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, seeks to enhance federal monitoring and reduce opportunities for adversaries, notably China, to gain control over U.S. agricultural assets. Ernst’s proposal follows increased scrutiny on foreign control of American farmland.

Concerns Grow Over Chinese Acquisition

In the past ten years, Chinese investments in the agricultural domain in the U.S. have escalated significantly. Senator Ernst pointed out this growth in a recent statement, emphasizing the critical need for preventative measures. Ernst stated, “China, in particular, has increased agricultural investments tenfold over the past decade.”

This surge has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, who see the potential national security implications.

Despite differing views on other matters, there is consensus across parties regarding the risk posed by China’s expanding influence in sectors impacting U.S. intellectual property and competitiveness globally.

Support for Ernst’s bill crosses party lines. Democrats like Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and John Fetterman from Pennsylvania stand with Republicans such as Florida’s Rick Scott and Ted Budd from North Carolina. However, the proposed measures are not without their critics.

Critics of the ‘Farmland Act’ voice worries about the administrative burdens and economic repercussions of increased federal oversight.

Expanded regulations could disrupt legitimate foreign investments, they claim, suggesting a careful balance must be struck.

State governments are not idle on the issue either. Iowa, among other states, has preemptively limited foreign land acquisitions, illustrating local-level awareness and action against perceived threats.

Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins has emphasized the broader stakes of Land ownership, urging vigilance against foreign adversaries’ strategies. “American agriculture is not just about feeding our families but about protecting our nation,” Rollins noted.

China’s Strategic Holdings in Key Areas

China’s landholdings raise concerns not just because of their size but also due to their strategic locations. In North Carolina, China holds nearly 50,000 acres, some in proximity to critical infrastructure such as military bases. Similarly, in Florida, over 13,000 acres of farmland are under Chinese control.

This pattern of acquisition underscores the geopolitical intricacies involved in land ownership, particularly concerning national security.

The Trump administration previously brought attention to this issue, citing extensive foreign ownership across the nation.

During the Trump presidency, findings indicated that China possessed more than 350,000 acres spanning across 27 states. Brooke Rollins reaffirmed the need to prevent foreign adversaries from increasingly securing American farmland.

In addition to the ‘Farmland Act’, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and Representative Mary Miller have introduced complementary legislation. Their measures further highlight the pressing bipartisan urgency to curtail foreign influence in U.S. agriculture.

The Government Accountability Office’s 2024 report exacerbated these concerns, identifying challenges in tracking foreign land acquisitions accurately. The inaccuracies noted in earlier reports point to complexities in assessing the full scope of this issue.

Data reveals that foreign ownership accounts for approximately 43 million acres of U.S. agricultural land, representing nearly 2% of the country’s total land area. This aggregation of foreign-owned property, as Ernst articulates, is comparable to areas larger than individual states.