China Farmland Bill: US Ownership Restrictions
Lawmakers are taking decisive action. They’ve introduced a bill designed to tighten the reins on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, with an emphasis on Chinese entities. This proposed legislation, aiming to improve reporting and data sharing, directly addresses concerns about the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Improvements Act (AFIDA). The core of the changes centers on increasing oversight, especially given the meaningful amount of land—over 277,000 acres in 2023—controlled by Chinese investors. News Directory 3 dives deep into these new regulations.The bill is heading to Congress, where the debate over the appropriate level of regulation will continue. Discover what’s next, as the balance shifts between national security and economic interests.
Lawmakers target China With Farmland Ownership Bill
updated June 17, 2025
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to increase scrutiny of foreign ownership of U.S.agricultural land, with a particular focus on Chinese entities. The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Improvements Act (AFIDA) seeks to address concerns raised in a Government Accountability Office report that found existing regulations inadequate.
The proposed measures include requiring foreign entities holding more than a 1% interest in U.S. farmland to report their holdings. The bill also aims to improve information sharing between the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States and the Department of Agriculture, as well as update the AFIDA handbook.
Ashley Webster of FOX Business noted the legislation would send a clear message to China. As of the end of 2023,Chinese investors owned more than 277,000 acres of U.S. farmland, according to a USDA report. foreign investors held nearly 45 million acres of U.S. farmland.
Webster also pointed out that many states have already taken action to restrict or prohibit foreign entities and governments from purchasing agricultural land. Approximately half of U.S. states had such laws in place as of April.
The U.S. had 1.3 billion acres of privately held agricultural land at the end of 2023, according to the USDA. The issue of Chinese ownership of American farmland has gained prominence amid growing tensions between the two countries.
What’s next
The legislation will now be considered by Congress, where it is expected to face debate over the appropriate level of regulation and the balance between national security concerns and economic interests.