Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned agricultural land in the United States, with 2.2 million acres
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, to permanently add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS), the governmental body that oversees the vetting process of foreign investment and acquisition of American companies. Currently, CFIUS does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses. The legislation’s reintroduction was first reported by AgriPulse.
“Over the last decade, we’ve seen a surge of American farmland purchases from our foreign adversaries,” said Senator Tuberville. “These foreign investments are now reaching every piece of the very large puzzle that makes up our agriculture industry, from farming and processing to packaging and shipping. Food security is national security, and we cannot allow our adversaries to have a foot in the door to our critical supply chains. We must prioritize oversight of foreign investment in our food supply chains, especially from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. This starts with giving the agriculture community a permanent seat at the table on CFIUS. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I will keep fighting to secure our ag supply chains so that our agriculture community can continue to put food on the table for American families.”
“Pennsylvania is home to about 50,000 farms and the farmers who power them already face enough challenges to stay competitive. They shouldn’t also have to compete with foreign adversaries buying up American farmland,” said Senator John Fetterman. “America’s farms are critical infrastructure, and CFIUS exists to protect our critical infrastructure from foreign threats. So, adding the Secretary of Agriculture is just plain common sense. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: foreign adversaries have no business owning American farmland. This bill makes that clear and I’m proud to partner with my colleague to get it done.”
Joining Senators Tuberville and Fetterman in introducing the legislation are U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).
Two previous AG secretaries under Democrat administrations have expressed support for making the Secretary of Agriculture a permanent member of CFIUS. U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) reintroduced the bipartisan, companion legislation in the House of Representatives today.
“America’s agricultural industry is no exception to the increasing national security threats our country faces,” said Rep. Jackson. “Biden’s failed leadership allowed unchecked foreign influence, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party, to interfere with and attempt to control our food supply chain. Representing Texas’s top agricultural-producing district, I am committed to ensuring our nation’s food production remains free from foreign manipulation. This is why I am proud to reintroduce the FARM Act, putting America first and ensuring that our agricultural industry remains robust, secure, and free from foreign interference. Thank you to Senator Tuberville for leading companion legislation in the Senate, and we hope this bipartisan legislation, which is crucial to our food security, will move forward quickly to President Trump’s desk.”
Read the bill here.
BACKGROUND:
Over the past few years, the United States has experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment in the agricultural sector, particularly from China. Growing foreign investment in agriculture and other essential industries, like health care and energy, threaten our country’s national security. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate AG Committee, Senator Tuberville has been sounding the alarm about foreign ownership of American farmland and other elements of our food supply chain.
According to USDA data from December 2023, foreign investors own approximately 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land. This represents an increase of over 1.5 million acres in one calendar year. Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land increased modestly increased from 2012 to 2017 at an average increase of 0.6 million acres per year. However, since 2017, this number skyrocketed to an annual average of 2.6 million acres annually. Additionally, between 2010 and 2021, entities or individuals from China increased their ownership of U.S. agricultural land more than twentyfold, from 13,720 acres to 383,935 acres. Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned agricultural land in the United States, with 2.2 million acres, most of which is forestland.
CFIUS is authorized to oversee and review foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses as it relates to national security. Currently, the Committee does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses.
Specifically, the FARM Act would:
- add the Secretary of Agriculture as a member to CFIUS;
- protect the U.S. agriculture industry from foreign control through transactions, mergers, acquisitions, or agreements; designate agricultural supply chains as critical infrastructure and critical technologies,
- and require a report to Congress on current and potential foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural industry from USDA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
MORE:
Tuberville Continues Efforts to Secure America’s Farmland from Foreign Adversaries
Tuberville Continues Fighting Foreign Influence in American Agriculture
Second Democrat Ag Secretary Endorses Central Provision in Tuberville’s FARM Act
Biden Ag Secretary Endorses Central Part of Tuberville’s FARM Act
Tuberville Continues Push to Combat Chinese Influence in U.S. Agriculture
Tuberville Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Ban Foreign Adversaries from Buying U.S. Farmland
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.
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