Foreign entities continued to expand their ownership of American agricultural land in 2024, renewing questions about who controls the nation’s farmland and what that could mean for U.S. agriculture.
China has drawn scrutiny in recent years over its purchases of American farmland, especially near sensitive military installations. But the country represents less than one percent of all foreign-held agricultural land in the United States.
“In 2024, foreign entities held approximately 47 million acres of U.S. ag land. That’s up about 90 percent since 2010, and accounts for about 3.6 percent of total ag land in the United States.” According to Faith Parum, the deputy chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation
She says that distinction is important as lawmakers and agricultural groups debate the national security implications of foreign land ownership.
She adds, “Canada and Europe currently hold the most U.S. land. It is important to know that this isn’t always outright ownership, but can be leasing land. And so, we typically see a lot of forest land and renewable energy projects be owned by foreign entities. So, a farmer may still hold the land, but they lease out part of it to companies to do renewable energy projects that have foreign investors.”
Foreign ownership includes agricultural acreage held by foreign individuals, businesses, governments, and other entities. Those holdings can include cropland, pastureland, and forestland.
While China accounts for a relatively small share, the broader trend of increasing foreign ownership has prompted calls for greater transparency and tighter oversight.
For American farmers, the issue raises questions about land affordability, competition for acreage, and protecting the nation’s long-term agricultural interests.
