U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville has raised concerns over foreign adversaries purchasing American farmland, stating that it poses a threat to U.S. national security. This statement was shared in a press release.
"Foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are trying to get their foot in the door by buying up our farmland," said Tuberville, according to U.S. Department of Aggriculture. "In my state of Alabama, we have the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned land in the U.S. with 2.2 million acres. Not only is this dangerous for our farmers, but it's disastrous for our national security. Thankfully, the Trump administration is taking action to secure our farmland and keep us safe from bad foreign actors."
According to a press release, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem introduced the National Farm Security Action Plan on July 8. The plan identifies American agriculture as a critical aspect of national security and aims to address threats posed by foreign adversaries to U.S. agricultural and food systems. It seeks to increase transparency and introduce "tougher penalties" for foreign land ownership while strengthening domestic investment in key manufacturing sectors. Additionally, the plan addresses bio-threats to plants and animals and aims to protect agricultural research and innovation from "hostile nations."
The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that foreign-owned land in the U.S. increased by 1.58 million acres between 2022 and 2023. Countries designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security, including China, owned 370,726 acres of land in the U.S. in 2023.
According to a report from the National Association of Counties, American land owned or leased by Chinese individuals or entities rose by more than 400% between 2010 and 2021. A significant portion of the U.S. pork market is controlled by Chinese-owned WH Group, which acquired Smithfield Foods in 2013. Critics have expressed concerns that these foreign entities may be "siphoning limited resources away from local residents to produce commodities for foreign markets overseas."
Tuberville previously worked as a college football coach before being elected to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate in 2020. He is currently a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
