By Scout Nelson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under Secretary Brooke Rollins, has announced a major move to protect national interests by banning the sale of American farmland to foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran. This decision is based on growing concerns around national security and the safety of the U.S. food supply.
As part of this new action, the USDA will also increase oversight of farmland that is already owned by foreign entities. The aim is to ensure that existing landowners do not pose a risk to military operations or food production systems.
According to current USDA data, Chinese investors control about 265,000 acres of land in the United States. Roughly half of that is linked to Smithfield Foods, which was acquired in 2013 by the WH Group, a major Chinese company led by tycoon Wan Long. The announcement follows a controversial land deal in North Dakota, where a Chinese-owned firm purchased land near a U.S. military base. Though not technically prohibited under existing rules, the deal raised alarms and highlighted weaknesses in current oversight policies.
This event has led lawmakers and federal agencies to reevaluate how foreign ownership is monitored. Critics pointed out that current regulations under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) did not prevent the land sale due to a lack of formal designation of the military site as sensitive.
Secretary Rollins emphasized that this action is a necessary step to safeguard American sovereignty, agriculture, and defense. “This is about ensuring that America’s food and farmland are not controlled by those who may not share our values,” she said.
This move signals a firm commitment from the USDA and the federal government to secure America’s farmland and food systems for future generations.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: North Dakota, Business