By Jamie Martin
In 2023, foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land increased by 1.58 million acres, reaching a total of 45.58 million acres. This represents 3.61% of all privately held farmland in the country.
The rise was primarily attributed to renewable energy projects, which account for nearly 76% of the growth in foreign-held land since 2018.
Canada is the largest foreign investor in U.S. farmland, holding 15.35 million acres, followed by European countries. Chinese ownership, often under scrutiny, dropped by 34,000 acres in 2023, marking an 11% decline.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, renewable energy investments, particularly in wind energy, have surged by 353% since 2010, adding 10.4 million acres.
“Since 2010, foreign renewable energy investments in U.S. agricultural land have increased by at least 10.4 million acres — a 353% rise,” noted AFBF’s analysis.
Texas leads the U.S. in foreign-held agricultural land, with 5.7 million acres under foreign ownership, driven by timber and energy sectors.
Maine holds the highest percentage of foreign-owned farmland, with over 21% of its agricultural land owned by foreign investors.
This trend highlights increasing international interest in U.S. agriculture, particularly in cropland, which has seen a 101% rise in foreign investment over the past five years.
Photo Credit: american-farm-bureau-federation
Categories: National