Protecting Farms from Foreign Buyers

National Security Risk?

---

The Trump administration has announced a sweeping initiative to prohibit Chinese nationals and other foreign adversaries from owning U.S. farmland, citing national security concerns. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the “National Farm Security Action Plan” on July 8, standing with Cabinet members, Republican governors, and congressional leaders in Washington, D.C.

Rollins stated that the administration will pursue both legislative and executive actions to not only ban future purchases but also reclaim farmland already acquired by entities linked to countries like China. “Farm security is national security,” Rollins declared, emphasizing the growing need to protect the agricultural sector from foreign influence.

The seven-part plan outlines a coordinated federal effort, involving agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice. One major component includes the creation of an online tool that allows farmers and stakeholders to report suspicious or unclear foreign ownership of agricultural land.

The administration also intends to tighten biosecurity protocols, prevent misuse of agricultural supply chains for illicit activity, and ensure that foreign governments cannot access USDA funding or research grants. As part of the initiative, Rollins will join the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to help oversee foreign agricultural investments.

One high-profile example of foreign ownership includes Smithfield Foods in northern Missouri, acquired in 2013 by China’s WH Group. That operation spans more than 40,000 acres. While Missouri law currently permits foreign ownership of up to 1% of farmland, a new federal ban could force the sale of such properties.

At the announcement event, Republican governors expressed strong support for the plan. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders underscored that a nation must be able to “feed itself, fuel itself, and fight for itself” to maintain independence. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee added, “Our farmland is not just dirt. It is our national security.”

The administration’s stance comes amid growing concern about foreign influence over critical infrastructure. While Chinese ownership represents only a fraction of foreign-held U.S. farmland — approximately 276,000 acres, or about 0.02% according to the American Farm Bureau — officials maintain that any level of influence from foreign adversaries poses a risk.