Ricketts and Fetterman Team Up on Farm Ownership Bill
Republican Senator Pete Ricketts is working with Democrat Senator John Fetterman to push a bill aimed at increasing foreign surveillance related to the purchase of American farmland. The proposed legislation, known as the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Improvement Act, seeks to address gaps identified in a January 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which noted that AFIDA wasn’t equipped to handle the issue of foreign ownership in U.S. agriculture.
“Communist China poses our greatest geopolitical risk,” Ricketts mentioned in an interview, adding that these measures would enhance transparency regarding farmland acquisitions.
This push comes soon after two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan, and Chengxuan Han, a student from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, faced federal charges for allegedly smuggling biological materials into the U.S.
According to U.S. attorneys, the suspects were involved in smuggling fungi linked to significant agricultural threats, potentially devastating crops like wheat and corn, leading to massive economic losses each year. Furthermore, these fungi could have serious health implications for humans and livestock.
Tricia McLaughlin, Deputy Director of Homeland Security, emphasized the importance of safeguarding national security, noting previous attempts to smuggle harmful agricultural materials as pressing concerns. Ricketts echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Chinese are not just targeting crops but also attempting to steal agricultural biotechnology.
Statistics show that foreign entities currently own over 40 million acres of farmland in the U.S., with significant increases in Chinese ownership from 2010 to 2021, rising from about 13,720 acres to nearly 384,000 acres.
“It’s alarming, especially how close much of this land is to military installations,” Ricketts pointed out. The proposed bill, also co-sponsored by Senators Tommy Tuberville, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, and Don Bacon, would enforce stricter AFIDA reporting requirements for foreign investors holding more than 1% interest in U.S. farmland.
This legislation aims to improve collaboration between the Foreign Investment Commission and the USDA, along with updates to the AFIDA handbook and the establishment of an online reporting system.
Ricketts declared, “We’re at a critical juncture in our history, and it’s essential that we bolster our military and allies against dictatorial threats, particularly from China.” This urgency grows alongside rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran and Israel, which further heighten national security worries.
Despite the critical need for action, the bill has seen little advancement, mainly due to Senate Republicans prioritizing other legislative matters. Ricketts concluded by stating that American farmland shouldn’t become leverage for adversaries like China to undermine national security from within.
