Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land Still Growing
Faith Parum, Ph.D. Deputy Chief Economist
Key Takeaways
- The share of foreign-owned U.S. land continues to rise. In 2024, foreign entities controlled approximately 47.24 million acres of U.S. agricultural land, a 91% increase since 2010, representing 3.6% of total agricultural land in the United States.
- Canada and Europe are the top foreign investors in U.S. farmland, with Canada holding around 16.1 million acres and European countries collectively owning more than 18 million acres.
- While Chinese investment in U.S. farmland has garnered significant attention, in 2024, they held approximately 245,000 acres, making up less than 1% of foreign-owned agricultural land.
- It's crucial to recognize that a significant portion of this land is not actively used for farming; nearly half is forestland, and substantial amounts are dedicated to renewable energy projects like solar and wind.
- Foreign ownership of U.S. land is a contentious issue, sparking debates around national security, agricultural productivity, and the long-term effects on U.S. agriculture.
USDA