Chinese-Owned Farmland: A Growing U.S. Security Threat?
Chinese entities now hold 277,336 acres of U.S. agricultural land as of December 31, 2023, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report. While that number represents less than 1% of all foreign-owned farmland, security experts warn that the location of these properties—sometimes near military bases—poses risks that extend far beyond the agricultural sector.
π Check out the map of Chinese-owned farmland in the U.S. below:
Concentration of Chinese-Owned Land
The USDA data shows significant concentrations in:
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Texas: 123,708 acres
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North Carolina: 44,263 acres
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Missouri: 42,905 acres
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Utah: 33,035 acres
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Florida: 12,798 acres
Together, these five states account for 93% of the acreage held by Chinese entities.
Alarmingly, 30 U.S. military installations now sit within 100–150 miles of Chinese-owned farmland—14 parcels of which are located in the same county as a base.
National Security Concerns
At a recent press conference, White House Senior Trade Adviser Peter Navarro referenced Sun Tzu’s The Art of War:
“The acme of warfare is to win without firing a shot.”
Navarro warned that farmland acquisitions could offer a backdoor for surveillance or strategic positioning.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins echoed those concerns, announcing the National Farm Security Action Plan:
“Agriculture is not just about feeding a family but about protecting our nation and standing up to foreign adversaries who are buying our farmland.”
The Legal Framework
Under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land are required to report details such as the country of origin, acreage, and land use. However, the USDA’s data only tracks farmland and forests—it excludes non-agricultural holdings like residential or industrial real estate, meaning the true scope of foreign land control could be much higher.
Pushback and Policy Moves
Growing concern has led to:
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Federal scrutiny of purchases near sensitive sites
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State-level legislation restricting foreign ownership of farmland
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Calls in Congress to expand the disclosure law and strengthen penalties
Why It Matters
Experts argue that farmland ownership isn’t just about crop yields—it’s about supply chain resilience, food security, and military readiness. With global competition intensifying, U.S. policymakers are treating farmland as a strategic asset on par with energy, tech, and infrastructure.
“Control of land equals control of resources,” says Axios Security Group CEO Jereme Dozier. “Foreign ownership—especially by adversarial nations—introduces risks to national security, intelligence, and even economic sovereignty.”
Legal and Legislative Backlash
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New bills introduced:
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The FARMLAND Act would empower CFIUS to screen purchases above 320 acres or $5 million.Financial Times+4Midland Daily News+4Jacksonville Journal-Courier+4
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Representative Mary Miller’s legislation seeks to ban Chinese nationals or CCP-affiliated entities from owning U.S. agricultural or residential property—non-compliance could result in steep fines or asset forfeiture.Wikipedia+3Jacksonville Journal-Courier+3New York Post+3
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State action: More than 20 states have considered or passed laws restricting foreign land ownership, such as North Dakota after Chinese acquisitions near a military base.Wikipedia+3AP News+3justmelaniew.com+3
China Pushback
Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng criticized these actions as politically motivated. He noted that Chinese ownership constitutes less than 0.03% of U.S. farmland and warned against politicizing agriculture. South China Morning Post+1
π‘️ How Axios Security Group Can Help
At Axios Security Group, we provide multi-layered riskmitigation strategies tailored to high-stakes environments like this:
- OSINT
& Threat Intelligence
Continuous monitoring of land ownership transfers, corporate filings, and shell company structures to identify potential adversarial control. - Geospatial
& Physical Risk Assessments
Mapping foreign-owned land in proximity to critical infrastructure, military bases, and supply chain chokepoints. - Cybersecurity
Integration
Identifying potential risks of cyber-physical convergence (e.g., compromised smart irrigation systems, surveillance disguised as agricultural infrastructure). - Executive
Protection & Corporate Advisory
Supporting agribusiness leaders, landowners, and lawmakers with protective services, due diligence, and red-team exercises to anticipate threats. - Policy
& Compliance Guidance
Advising corporations and investors on compliance with the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act and emerging federal/state land ownership laws.
Conclusion
The Chinese farmland case shows the risk of foreign infiltration of critical infrastructure. Both remind us that national security and corporate security overlap in powerful ways.
The question isn’t whether foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is currently an operational threat—it’s whether we can afford to ignore the long-term risks of adversarial footholds near critical American assets.
π To learn more about risk assessments, land security analysis, or executive protection:
π www.axiossecuritygroup.com | 800-485-3983
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