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Lawmakers have held a hearing on foreign purchases/ownership of U.S. farmland and other farm-related businesses. Gary Crawford has more.
Thomas Capps
Foreign ownership of American farmland. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I’m Thomas Capps Lawmakers recently held a hearing on foreign ownership of us farmland and other farm related businesses. US Department of Agriculture’s Gary Crawford has more.
Gary Crawford
Opinions on the issue of foreign ownership of us farmland and other ag related businesses vary widely. Some say the amount of US farmland owned by China, for example, is only one half of 1% of all US ag land owned by interest outside the US and so that may not be a threat. Others such as Montana’s Senator Jon Tester disagree
Senator Jon Tester
When we’re talking about the Chinese Communist Party, putting up a Corn Milling plant within miles of a sensitive Air Force Base, we need to make sure that this doesn’t happen. Because quite honestly, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, they are not friends of ours. They want to make us less than we are today. So we shouldn’t allow these bad actors to be on our soil. The fact is, is that if they’re there to have impacts on our food supply, that’s bad business. If they’re there to spy on us, they shouldn’t be allowed to spy on us anywhere in the world and certainly not on our own soil.
Gary Crawford
Like USDA Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montaño Greene told lawmakers that while many people believe the US Department of Agriculture should go ahead, just move in and tightly restrict foreign purchases of us ag land. The fact is,
Gloria Montaño Greene
Our authority does not allow us to stop the selling of foreign land. We do not have authority to have a decision in foreign or domestic land purchases and leases.
Gary Crawford
USDA does have the job of tracking and disclosing land deals but the system for doing that is a complex patchwork. I’m Gary Crawford reporting for the US Department of Agriculture in Washington.
Thomas Capps
Here in Tennessee State lawmakers are taking some action on the issue. Last legislative session the state legislature passed a bill that prevents sanction foreign businesses or governments from buying land in Tennessee. For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Thomas Capps.
