(NewsNation) — U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says she’s in lockstep with President Donald Trump regarding foreign investment into American land and potentially banning China from further ownership.
Foreign land grabs of American farmland are not new, nor is it an overwhelmingly large problem. Foreign entities own only about 3% of farmland in the U.S., and China owns less than 1% of that.
The concern, however, is that international ownership could lead to risks of spying or economic pressure — particularly when the ownership is near sensitive infrastructure like military bases.
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“Secretary Rollins will follow the president’s lead on China. She understands the importance of market access. At the same time, China must be held accountable,” a statement from the USDA read.
The latest USDA figures show China owns more than 277,000 acres of U.S. farmland, with the greatest concentration in West Texas, Utah, Florida and North Carolina.
While the total ownership of farmland under Chinese influence dipped between 2022 and 2023, it’s still up more than 20 times over the past decade.
It’s a story NewsNation has been covering for years.
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Our reporters have been across the country highlighting concerns from real Americans about how Chinese influence impacts their businesses and sense of safety.
Texas has primarily led the way in trying to limit foreign access to land. Lawmakers passed a bill that would ban China from buying Texas farmland. That bill, however, failed in the Texas House of Representatives.
There are currently 24 states that prohibit or limit foreign land ownership.
