YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Texas has highest increase in foreign-owned ag land

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

The issue of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land continues to simmer.

New data from a U.S. Department of Agriculture report is likely to add more heat to the discussion, especially in Texas. 

The Lone Star State leads the nation in the amount of foreign-owned ag land. In 2021, the figure was 5,267,854 acres. That consists mostly of forestland, followed by pastureland and then cropland.

The foreign-owned amount represents 3.4% of the total amount of agricultural land in the state. The percentage nationally is 3.1%

It’s not surprising the foreign ownership trend in Texas continues to point upward. Between 2020 and 2021, foreign entities purchased 549,000 more Texas agricultural acres.

Investors from Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom own the most acreage, in that order.

Where is China? Nationally, China ranks 18th, with .03% of foreign investor-held land.

Foreign owners of farmland are required to report their investments by the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

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