Indy Standard

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 today in Washington. The bill aims to enhance scrutiny over foreign acquisitions of U.S. farmland and agricultural industries, with a focus on purchases by countries such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

“Nearly two-thirds of land in Indiana – and more than half of all land in the United States – is farmland. Recent efforts by China and other adversaries to buy agricultural land across the country could present a national security threat. Indiana is a leader in restricting these purchases, but Congress must act to ensure permanent safeguards are in place in all fifty states,” said Senator Young.

Senator Braun highlighted the increase in Chinese ownership of American farmland: “Chinese ownership of American farmland increased more than 20-fold in the past decade. The amount of American soil in the hands of our foreign adversaries will only go up if we do not implement restrictions and oversight, especially on nations that compromise our national security and agricultural supply chains. I’m proud to lead this effort to protect American farms and food security.”

The legislation has garnered support from Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Tester (D-Mont.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).

The bill is backed by several organizations including the Indiana Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau, Indiana Soybean Alliance, and the Indiana Corn Growers Association.

Full text of the bill is available here.