The amount of farmland in the United States owned by foreign investors experienced a notable increase of over 8% in 2022, raising concerns about national security implications. Currently, foreign-owned farmland accounts for approximately 3% of the total agricultural land in the country. However, government officials are expressing worries over the potential risks associated with foreign entities controlling American food supplies or acquiring critical U.S. assets.
A recently published map reveals that foreign ownership of farmland extends across at least 37 states in the nation. Federal data indicates that China, with ownership of 383,000 acres, which is roughly equivalent to one-third the size of Rhode Island, ranks lower on the list of foreign investors. Interestingly, Canada stands at the top of the list.
