A group of senators from different political backgrounds is raising concerns over what they perceive as a subtle yet alarming development in America’s heartland: Large areas of farmland being acquired by foreign entities, with China at the forefront of these acquisitions.
The pressing nature of their worry stems from a clear pattern: Chinese agricultural investments in the United States have increased tenfold in the last ten years, according toIowaSenator Joni Ernst, who has supported the ‘Farmland Act.’
The law aims to limit Chinese control over U.S. land by increasing federal supervision of farmland owned by foreign nations.
It’s a campaign driven by a single main objective: Limit the growing aspirations of one of our leading rivals.
Ernst directly mentions China, noting that ‘it has expanded agricultural investments by ten times in the last ten years.’
Ernst stated to the Daily Mail that it is essential to restrict the chances for foreign organizations, particularly rivals such as China, to acquire agricultural land.
Ernst mentioned, “China will come in and buy that land, preventing us from utilizing it for production, and instead, they will.”
There is widespread agreement across party lines thatChinaposes a risk to the United States in domains like intellectual property and worldwide economic strength, butDemocratsand Republicans often have differing opinions on the most effective approaches to handling an opposing country.
Concerns are being voiced by Republicans regarding inadequate supervision of government initiatives that support research and technological advancement, especially when projects backed by American taxpayer money are headed by foreign individuals.
In contrast, Democrats are attributing the reduction in financial support for research projects to the Trump administration, claiming these initiatives are essential for ensuring the United States remains competitive in new technological fields.
Although there were differences, Ernst has managed to get two Democrats on board with the bill: Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and John Fetterman ofPennsylvania. Republicans Rick Scott ofFlorida and Ted Budd ofNorth Carolinahave also joined, providing it with extensive geographic backing.
Resistance to the Farmland Act focuses on worries regarding increased federal control and regulatory challenges for foreign investors looking to purchase U.S. agricultural land. According to critics, valid investments might experience interruptions or delays in their transactions.
Nevertheless, numerous states have already implemented measures to restrict foreign acquisitions of their land, such as Ernst’s property in Iowa.
“But, if you go back and look across the United States at what we have already sold to foreign entities, if you combine all those acres, it will be larger than the state of Tennessee,” Ernst said to the Daily Mail.
In North Carolina, where Budd is located, China owns almost 50,000 acres of agricultural land, some of which is close to important locations like U.S. military bases.
Florida, Scott’s home state, contains almost 13,000 acres of agricultural land owned by China.
Ernst’s legislation is not the sole proposal currently being developed to prevent China’s attempts to acquire American farmland. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has proposed the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act, while Representative Mary Miller introduced a corresponding bill in the House this week. Twelve Republican representatives have supported Miller’s bill in the House.
The Trump administration stated in February that China, in total, owns more than 350,000 acres across 27 states. According to official statistics, foreign individuals and organizations own approximately 43 million acres of U.S. farmland, which is almost 2 percent of the country’s total land area.
A 2024 report by the Government Accountability Office found that it is challenging to track foreign purchases of U.S. land. It also concluded that a previous 2021 report, which stated that foreign organizations owned 40 million acres, was incorrect.
Trump’s Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, recently stated that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will prohibit ‘Chinese nationals’ and other foreign competitors from acquiring agricultural land in the United States.
“American farming isn’t only about nourishing our households but also about safeguarding our country and confronting foreign enemies who are purchasing our farmland, appropriating our research, and introducing risky weaknesses in the systems that support us,” Rollins stated.
Read more
